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27
| 0448482894
| 9780448482897
| 0448482894
| 4.12
| 1,564
| Jun 28, 2016
| Jun 28, 2016
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it was amazing
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See this review and more like it on www.bookbastion.net! ________ When single shines the triple sun/What was sundered and undone/Shall be whole, the two See this review and more like it on www.bookbastion.net! ________ When single shines the triple sun/What was sundered and undone/Shall be whole, the two made one/By Gelfling hand or else by none. [image] The Dark Crystal has been a staple in my life since my early childhood. I remember watching the original movie (and Labyrinth with David Bowie and Jennifer Connolly!) over and over again on VHS with my siblings. It got to the point where we can still quite lines from the movies to each other by heart. So you can imagine how excited I’ve been by the resurgence of this universe into popular culture over the last few years! Shadows of the Dark Crystal clearly lays a lot of the groundwork and foundation that we saw in the Netflix revival series, Age of Resistance, with a few critical differences. While Rian was the star of the Netflix series – and he also exists within this series and follows a similar storyline to the show – this novel shifts the perspective to center around another set of characters on their own adventure within the world of Thra. I thought I would miss Rian’s perspective as the central figure in this story, but I really came to love Naia as the main character. Sister to Gurjin, (both ancillary characters that fans of the Netflix show might recall) Naia is next in line to become Maudra of the Drenchen clan and as such bears a mantle of responsibility to her family and her people that sometimes threatens to overpower her. When her brother, Gurjin goes missing, Naia is tasked with leaving her home for the first time in search of what happened to him. She is driven to protect the people she cares about, and I loved how she grows into her own strength over the course of the story. Missing entirely from this story is Deet, who is another central figure in the Netflix show. It’s clear that the writers of the scripts for the show borrowed heavily from the character of Naia when they were writing Deet, and while I did miss the Grotton fan favorite, I also am a little bit bummed out that Naia didn’t get her chance to properly shine in the show like she does here. [image] It’s clear that J.M. Lee was a huge fan of the movie. You can feel the love and respect for the original lore and story here, but I also so appreciate all the creativity that Lee’s voice brought to the Dark Crystal mythos as well. Whereas the original film relies on atmosphere, character and set design to convey much of the cultures of the Gelfling, Skeksis and Mystics, Lee expands on all that by adding new levels of complexity to the cultures and behaviors of the creatures of Thra. The writing is snappy and fast-paced. This is a book that one can easily breeze through in a weekend, but that quick pace doesn’t keep the prose from being wonderfully engaging. Lee showcases the beauty of Thra as well as its dangers with his outstanding ability to describe the world, its characters and their place within it. The Skeksis are also at their most formidable in this book. With the introduction of possibly the coolest Skeksis character of all time (SkekMal the Hunter) Lee infuses the story with suspense and danger that definitely places this into the pageturner category. [image] As for when the story is set – like the Netflix series, it’s not entirely clear. As fans of the movie know, in the film, Jen is the last of his kind. In this series, the Gelfling society is yet untouched by the Skeksis and their corruption of the crystal. It’s definitely a little depressing to consider what may happen to the characters over the course of the series, which might make this book a bit of a challenge for some readers. That being said, I think the original Dark Crystal – and this novel both shine because they are unafraid to peer upon darkness from time to time. It raises the stakes, and the story is all the more memorable for it. ★★★★★ ________ [image]Follow me on Instagram @bookbastion for more shots of my books! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Feb 18, 2020
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Feb 21, 2020
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Feb 18, 2020
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Hardcover
| ||||||||||||||
6
| 0356509044
| 9780356509044
| 0356509044
| 4.18
| 23,123
| Aug 28, 2018
| Aug 30, 2018
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it was amazing
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See this review and more like it on www.bookbastion.net! ______ I always go into sequels to books I loved with a bit of trepidation. The fear is real th See this review and more like it on www.bookbastion.net! ______ I always go into sequels to books I loved with a bit of trepidation. The fear is real that the next book in the series isn’t going to be as great, or that I’ll be let down in some way – but I can happily begin this review by stating outright that this book did not disappoint! In Kings of The Wyld Nicholas Eames crafted a wonderfully vibrant and unique world with the land of Grandual. I found the writing and characters so compelling that I actually ran right out and bought Bloody Rose before I’d even finished the first book! Set six years after the events that saw Clay Cooper and his bandmates set out across the Heatwyld to rescue Golden Gabe’s daughter – the titular character of this novel – this book centers around Rose’s band and a new quest, though it stays true to the humor and emotional heart Eames established in the first book. The reader gets familiarized with Rose and the new characters of the novel through the POV character, Tam, who I found so wonderfully endearing from start to finish. [image][image][image][image][image][image] (Character Art from Nicholas Eames’ Official Website/blog) Whereas facing the evils of the Heartwyld in and out of the arena is old-hat to Bloody Rose and her band, Tam provides a different perspective. She’s driven at the start to do well by her new role, but her integrity and protective mama-bear nature towards the people who quickly become her friends made me fall in love with her. I think it works really well because Rose especially is emotionally closed off, Tam proves a great lens for readers to really delve into the secret heart of what motivates Rose just through her observations of her. Unlike book one, where the narrative is driven by the band’s urgency to reach Rose, this novel – at least at its outset – is more of an examination of Rose: who she is behind the armor and the twin scythes that she uses to wreak havoc on the battlefield; how growing up as the daughter of one of the world’s most famous mercenaries has forged her into the woman she is today, and how all these things have led to the darkening storm which naturally she feels that only she can face. [image] I’d describe the plot in this book as a bit quieter than the plot in the first book. Whereas book one has a very clear narrative arc start to finish (reaching Rose) it takes awhile for the actual meat of the story to start here because the main quest is one that reveals itself as the band moves through the world. Thematically, this is a story of one character (Rose) and the call for glory that was forced onto her at the moment of her birth. She doesn’t particularly enjoy being Bloody Rose, but at the same time it is all she has ever known and that urge to live up to the glory of her name is all she can comprehend. Fans of book one are sure to appreciate the ways in which plot threads established there are picked up once more. I find the main plots of these books really so compelling because of the way they’re tied directly to the world-building and history of Grandual. As the story progresses and the danger grows, so too does the reader’s understanding of the world and the character’s place in it. [image] Speaking of the characters, I’ve gotta give a shoutout to the ancillary cast again. I just love the way that Eames writes his side characters. They’re allowed to grow, and expand over the course of the story, rather than laying it all out for the readers at the beginning. Cura and Brune (I love him lots by the way) respectively both received really gorgeous character growth as the story moved along, confronting childhood trauma so that they could better handle the present dangers in the world. It was also so much fun to see Eames include so many callbacks to old favorites from the first book. There were so many cameos but I never felt like they were cheaply done or done only in the name of fan-service. They each have their place and continue to be important to the ongoing larger story of the world, and the movement of power within it. Also, I’m calling it now: Tally (Clay’s daughter) is the focus of book 3 in her own band – set 3 or 4 years in the future. Here’s hoping anyway! If you loved all of the fantasy creatures and lore from book 1 – you will be doubly impressed with Bloody Rose. The magical creatures are out in full force in this book, and in many ways they’ve been upgraded to be bigger, badder and more deadly than ever! The Simurg (Dragoneater) was such a cool concept brought to life. I’d love to see much of the sequences involving it played out on a big screen some day. [image] Filled to the brim with unique world-building, compelling characters and basically everything that I look for in fantasy, Nicholas Eames continues to impress me and has landed the next book in this series directly on my “must read asap” list! ★★★★★ = 5 out of 5 stars! Fantastic!! ______ [image]Follow me on Instagram @bookbastion! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jun 21, 2019
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Jun 30, 2019
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Jun 12, 2019
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Paperback
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25
| 1524713929
| 9781524713928
| 1524713929
| 3.94
| 12,466
| Jul 26, 2018
| May 29, 2018
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it was amazing
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See this review and more like it on www.bookbastion.net! This was the first full novel I've read by Jay Kristoff, and it certainly will not be my last. See this review and more like it on www.bookbastion.net! This was the first full novel I've read by Jay Kristoff, and it certainly will not be my last. I knew I liked the style he brought to Illuminae, Gemina and Obsidio, and I've been meaning to give his solo work a try, so when an advanced copy of Lifelike landed in my hands this weekend, I set aside everything I was doing just so I could dedicate myself to this. Which is probably a good thing, as it turns out this is a story that demands your attention from page one, and doesn't let up on the gas until the very end. [image] Pitched as Romeo meets Juliet, meets Mad Max, meets X-Men, with a little bit of Blade Runner thrown in for good measure, Lifelike is just as frenetic, character-driven and fast-paced as all the above descriptors would imply. Thematically, the story explores the usual sci/fi tropes - the meaning of life; a world devastated by violence, and artificial variants of humanity - but it does so with awesome characters and a breath of fire that made this book difficult to put down! One thing I've begun to learn is fairly indicative of a Jay Kristoff novel is his penchant for action filled sequences that are unflinching in their imagery and evocative of the action movie genre as a whole. This was no exception. The opening scenes alone establish this world as one of brutality and violence towards human and machine alike, and equally lights the fuse for that breakneck pace. [image] The entire story takes place over the course of only a few days, which should tell you something about the pace of this book. While full of almost constant movement, this story is grounded by the strength of its characters and the unexpected places Kristoff explores along their journey. All of the main cast of characters were fablous and instantly memorable characters. I especially loved the friendship between Eve and Lemon though. One thing I appreciated about their dynamic is that so often in YA stories, the "best friend" character is eventually sidelined into what is clearly a role of lesser import to the world at large. Kristoff pays special attention to Lemon throughout the course of the story, and it is clear that her role in later additions will only expand from here. The development of all the characters is quite well done, particularly in how twisty so much of it is. There were aspects I called early on, but just as many aspects that totally blindsided me. One character's journey in particular really wowed me and made me anxious to get my hands on book 2! In a way, I think this book is as much an origin story for the villains as it is the heroes. It appears Kristoff has used this first book as a launching pad for a number of greater character moments set in this universe and I'm so excited to see where it goes next. [image] The worldbuilding is surprisingly tight too. In a lot of post-apocalyptic set stories, we the reader are privy to nothing except: "the world has ended," because in a lot of those stories the fact that it's ended at all is the most important aspect. Kristoff is a bit more ambitious and sets the bulk of the plot squarely between corporations vying for control of what resources remain in the irradiated wasteland of America, post-explosion, and also in the rise of artificial intelligence and the exploration of what it means to be human. That being said, I appreciate that in this story there's no true robot uprising. There are only a handful of Lifelikes (androids) in comparison to human beings, but their existence at all creates quite the quandary for the characters that is explored over the course of the story. It's a softer opening than one might expect for a story that thematically tackles the implications of artificial life. I could go and and on about how I enjoyed this all day, but I think this is one book that really speaks for itself. If you're a fan of sci/fi or action driven stories, make sure you put this book on your reading list for 2018! 5 out of 5 stars! Thank you Netgalley, Knopf Books for Young Readers and Public Random House for approving my request! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Apr 29, 2018
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Apr 30, 2018
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Apr 25, 2018
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Hardcover
| ||||||||||||||
7
| 0316556343
| 9780316556347
| 0316556343
| 4.22
| 1,278,867
| Apr 10, 2018
| Apr 10, 2018
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it was amazing
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See this review and more like it on www.bookbastion.net _______ Madeline Miller really channeled her inner Goddess for this, because this book was a daz See this review and more like it on www.bookbastion.net _______ Madeline Miller really channeled her inner Goddess for this, because this book was a dazzling work of magic. I was utterly charmed by The Song of Achilles when I read it last year, so when Little, Brown and Company sent me an ARC of this book I was jumping for joy. It's no secret that I'm a fan of Greek mythology, so I know that factors into my enjoyment of these novels, but the true credit has to be paid to Madeline Miller's skill as a writer, her natural abilities as a storyteller, and the respect she pays to the source material she works with. [image] Circe is a beautiful re-framing of those original classic stories within a feminist narrative of a woman claiming agency within two worlds that cannot possibly appreciate her place in them. It's a great play on the Greek mythology, which often portrayed women as lesser players to the men around them, and even more frequently cast them as manipulators; deceivers that caused the downfall of men. Miller takes the character of Circe and drags her out of the shadows of the patriarchy that surrounds her and places her squarely in the spotlight, offering a lesser considered perspective of the notorious witch of Aiaia. [image] Watching Circe carve out her agency as a woman in two worlds - those of Gods and mortals - is extremely empowering to witness. The outcast child of Godblood and a source of infamy to mortal men, Circe spends the story bathed in the knowledge that she is anathema to both societies that she walks within. She has been slighted: the victim of inequities and unfair judgement and persecution of her character. Her narrative is unflinching and open, honest in its portrayal of a woman seeking the power to ensure her place in this world of Gods and monsters never opens her up to harm again. It would be easy given the subject matter at times for this story to slip into total despair. It is Miller's dedication to Circe's strengths that buoys her character and by association, the story itself up. Circe works to establish a safe position of power within her world as much as she does lament the unfairness of her situation. She is strong as stone and it is her belief in herself, to protect herself and that which she values from compromise that makes this such a compelling read. Circe is one of my favorite heroines I've ever read in my entire career as a blogger. [image] The mythology is on point here. There are familiar characters from Song of Achilles - though you do not need to read that book to understand their place in this novel - along with a whole host of new characters that are sure to please any fans of Greek mythology with even a cursory knowledge of the old stories. Miller uses the entire pantheon of Gods and fantastic creatures to her advantage, crafting a story that is vivid and rich. The prose itself is another highlight here. Blessed by immortality, this is a story that spans centuries. Hundreds of generations are born and fall away like dust in a spear of light around Circe, and she moves through the years as one passes through a threshold from the safety of house and home to the greater world outside the door. Miller's prose is dreamlike and shifts forward in leaps and bounds that never disorient, but rather highlights the lack of permanence that surrounds Circe, and further lends to her narrative of a woman uniquely placed to watch the workings of the world. [image] I've been blogging for over a year now, and I can safely say that not only was this the best book I've read so far thus year, this was one of the best books I've read in my entire career as a blogger. This is a new favorite for me, and will always hold a special place in my heart, and on my shelf, for years to come. 5 out of 5 stars! [image]follow me on instagram @bookbastion Thank you to Little, Brown and Company for sending me a physical ARC of this book! ...more |
Notes are private!
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2
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Apr 07, 2018
not set
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Apr 10, 2018
not set
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Mar 10, 2018
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Hardcover
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26
| 0399553924
| 9780399553929
| 0399553924
| 3.74
| 24,966
| Jun 05, 2018
| Jun 05, 2018
|
it was amazing
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See this review and more like it at www.bookbastion.net! ______ Marisha Pessl first impressed me with Night Film when I read that in 2017, and her foray See this review and more like it at www.bookbastion.net! ______ Marisha Pessl first impressed me with Night Film when I read that in 2017, and her foray into Young Adult / Science Fiction has wowed me as well! There is something so compelling about the way that Pessl allows a mystery to unfold. She certainly knows how to draw the reader in from the very first page – or in this case even with this gorgeous cover and evocative title. The thing I love so much about the title of this book is that it makes absolutely no sense outside the concept of the time continuum that her protagonists become trapped inside – but this book is certainly striking on the shelf and drew me right in the moment I saw it. [image] It’s difficult to talk about this book at all without first talking about the context of the plot premise itself. I’m going to try to keep this as spoiler free as I can, but if you’d like to go in completely blind you must first hear me say: this book is totally worth your time! The Neverworld Wake itself is a vicious loop that Beatrice and her friends become stuck in following a terrible accident. They’re doomed to repeat the last 12 hours of their existence forever until they make an equally terrible choice. Framed initially as a “Groundhogs Day” or “Russian Doll” type of story, Neverworld Wake is anything but familiar as Pessl begins threading in twists and turns that the reader can’t possibly see coming. [image] One thing I loved about Night Film is the way that Pessl plays with the concept of reality and our perception of it. She flexes those same skills here with the same finesse and style – creating a truly unique experience that I absolutely could not put down. Weaving back and forth between the main plot (the character’s situation) and the mystery surrounding their friend Jim’s death before the start of the novel, Pessl kept me hooked by constantly keeping the mystery alive. Every time you’re just getting familiar with the rules of their situation or a handle on the mystery subplot, Pessl skillfully throws a wrench into the gears and left me wondering what had just happened, and dying to know what the impacts of those actions were going to be on her characters. [image] In some ways, this novel is really a character study, or careful examination on the effects of stress on otherwise healthy minds. I was really invested in how the characters were each being affected in turn by the situation they were in. Imagine eternity, replaying the same 12 hours again and again, with the smallest of actions effecting each permutation of reality. It would be enough to drive anyone mad and certainly Pessl’s characters aren’t immune it. This makes for a harrowing read! I finished this book in the space of two days, and probably would have had it done sooner had it not been for life obligations keeping me from reading it any quicker. I love the way that this book keeps the reader guessing all the way up until the end, and in fact further. This is a book that sticks with you long after you’ve finished it. Please note that there is a very satisfying conclusion to the story at large, but Pessl also leaves lingering questions up for interpretation – allowing readers to glean meaning from this story where they need. Whether that messages regarding life, friendships or the permanency of love – how those things linger on after death. [image] I truly do not have enough good things to say about this book. It’s a really quick read, engaging as heck and if you’re a fan of science fiction in general you really should give this book a go – I promise you won’t be let down! ★★★★★ = 5 stars! _____ [image]Follow me on instagram @bookbastion You know you're a book blogger when you put aside your next planned read for an impromptu buddy read with Chelsea Humphrey! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jun 12, 2019
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Jun 14, 2019
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Dec 21, 2017
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Hardcover
| ||||||||||||||
23
| 1101904224
| 9781101904220
| 1101904224
| 4.14
| 666,597
| Jul 26, 2016
| Jul 26, 2016
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it was amazing
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See this review and more like it on www.bookbastion.net! ________ In some alternate reality I picked up this book the first time I saw a friend on my fe See this review and more like it on www.bookbastion.net! ________ In some alternate reality I picked up this book the first time I saw a friend on my feed raving about it. In another reality I may have read it a little bit later still, eventually becoming one of those people espousing how amazing it is to anyone who would listen. In this reality, I may have been a trifle slower on the uptake but I've finally fixed that today! Now that I've educated myself I can safely say I'm joining the ranks of people cheering this book on. I couldn't get enough, and had trouble putting this down! I felt a bit like bilbo baggins in that one freaky scene from The Lord of The Rings at the prospect of being separated from my current precious (this book.) [image] I was buddy reading this with a friend, and I quite literally had to force myself to set the book down once in awhile as to not get too far ahead too quickly. For creativity alone this book wins a lot of points. The idea of alternate realities and the existence of multiple universes involves theories that are both equal parts fascinating, terrifying and confusing. Crouch clearly recognized those aspects of multiverse theory and uses them to great advantage in this book. What if we could interact with those other realities? What if they could interact with our own reality? What would the ramifications of such technology bring about? As Crouch explores the theories within the larger framework of Jason's perceived reality, the true terror of what's happening is only enhanced. [image] The plot moves at breakneck speed as Crouch forgoes meandering and descriptive passages in favor of a sparse and sterile prose instead. Each paragraph is short. Averaging somewhere 2 and 3 sentences each. As Crouch moves Jason through his ever-worsening situation. There's no breathing room for the reader. Absolutely no opportunity to put the book down for a break. This is a story that begs to be consumed over the course of hours - not days. I ached to find out what was going to happen next. Even when I was finished with the book, I found my mind returning to it wondering: What's next? I didn't want to put those characters, or the story away. It's both easily consumable and sticks with you. A perfect read for a rainy weekend stuck indoors when you have no plans to get in the way. The one downside to this quick-moving style of writing is that at times I felt like the characters around Jason didn't get the opportunity to develop quite as well as he did. His immediate family (a wife and son) exist as constructs by which the differences in the multiverses are highlighted, and don't see much development as a result. Because the action required the characters to move so quickly, there just wasn't enough time to glean the information I was really looking for. [image] Credit to Crouch though for employing the science behind the multiverse in such a way that was easy to understand. I'm not a scientific guy. It all basically went in one ear and out the other when I was a student, but I didn't struggle here at all. Crouch keeps his explanations as neat and tidy as his prose, often "dumbing down" the technical jargon into terms that are easier for an average joe like myself to understand, which greatly helped increase my enjoyment of the story. Compelling, harrowing and full of unexpected heart, I come away from this book as a brand new fan of Blake Crouch, and happier for having read it. I might have wanted a bit more from the characters, but the easily consumable story and the quick moving plot had me so invested that I could barely put it down. Give this one a chance folks! I'm glad I did. ★★★★✯ = 4.5 stars, rounded up for Goodreads ________ I buddy read this with an awesome friend and phenomenal reviewer, Haïfa! ________ [image]Image taken from my instagram @bookbastion ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Oct 03, 2017
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Oct 07, 2017
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Sep 01, 2017
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Hardcover
| ||||||||||||||
19
| 1423101499
| 9781423101499
| 1423101499
| 4.42
| 1,188,330
| Mar 06, 2008
| Jun 11, 2014
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it was amazing
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See this review and more like it on www.bookbastion.net! _____________ This entry to the Percy Jackson series just took things to a whole new level! As See this review and more like it on www.bookbastion.net! _____________ This entry to the Percy Jackson series just took things to a whole new level! As a first time reader of the series, it blows me away that not only am I enjoying this series as an adult reader, but I'm actually finding that my excitement and love for it has grown with each book as well. The writing has improved, and the way that Riordan has slowly been building up the stakes in each story has definitely stoked my interest as well. I'm so hyped to see how the big showdown in the next book is going to go down! [image] I have to talk about the characters for a second. The dynamic Percy has with his friends has gotten better and better with each book. I never thought I could find another group of friends in a children's story that I enjoyed quite as much as the gang from Harry Potter, but Percy's gang of friends are just as compelling. I love the core trio (Percy, Annabeth and Grover) but the outliers that Rick Riordan has added on over the course of the series (like Tyson, Rachel Elizabeth Dare and Thalia) have grown on me as well. [image] None have grown on me more than Nico though. In the previous book, I had some real issues with Nico. In a lot of ways, this book seemed to build off of much that was introduced in the previous one and I thought it worked out well for Nico in terms of growth. I really felt for him and his struggles during this book. Also, I love his strange on-again, off-again burgeoning friendship with Percy. I'm very excited to see how that develops in the final book, especially considering the implications of their existence and the whole prophecy subplot that Rick Riordan has been establishing for 4 books now. Hopefully it doesn't let me down! I'm a sucker for magical locations and creatures in my fantasy - the stranger the better! So the fact that basically this entire book gets set in a spooky, atmospheric and magic-filled Labyrinth was essentially a dream come true for me. I think it had earned points in my mind for that before I'd even started the book, to be honest. Riordan doesn't disappoint with the setting either, instead he utilizes the magical properties of the Labyrinth to introduce a whole host of memorable locations, creatures and events. This is the most fun I've had in a Labyrinth since I had to rescue my stepbrother from goblins. [image] If I had to change one thing, I would have wanted this novel to be a trifle longer! While I think Riordan's ability to write characters and plot a story is definitely improving, in some ways I wish the prose would slow down a bit and describe things a little bit more. There are certain scenes (particularly the action sequences in this book) that I felt like could have been a bit more grand or of a larger scale than they ended up feeling because the prose moves along with such zeal to get to the next event. Sometimes a sense of dread and danger is good, and I think it's muddled a tiny bit in those fast-moving scenes. With that being said, plot-wise and character-wise, this was definitely my favorite of the series! I love the way the main plot and theme of the series has sort of unfolded around Percy and the years he's spent questing for the Gods of Olympus. I'm looking forward to seeing how his final clash with the Titans is going to turn out! Onwards to book 5! ★★★★✯ = 4.5/5 stars ___________ Percy Jackson Reviews: The Lightning Thief ★★★★★ The Sea of Monsters: ★★★★✯ The Titan's Curse: ★★★★ The Battle of the Labyrinth: ★★★★✯ The Last Olympian: RTC ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
|
Aug 16, 2017
|
Aug 21, 2017
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Aug 16, 2017
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Paperback
| ||||||||||||||
1
| 1501139231
| 9781501139239
| 1501139231
| 4.40
| 3,842,693
| Jun 13, 2017
| Jun 13, 2017
|
it was amazing
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See this review and more like it on www.bookbastion.net When I think back on my reading habits from a year ago and compare them to today, it makes me s See this review and more like it on www.bookbastion.net When I think back on my reading habits from a year ago and compare them to today, it makes me so glad that I started book blogging. Without this wonderful community of avid readers, I never would have discovered this book. It is far outside what I'd normally pick for myself to read, but finding it was like finding a diamond in the rough, if the rough is the bookstore I was unleashed onto when I committed to buying it. Thanks to a few fellow reviewers I trust completely who were raving about it, I decided to step outside my comfort zone and try a new genre for a change. I'm so glad I did because this was stunning, and Evelyn's story moved me in ways I didn't anticipate it would when I started. [image] I like to think this dichotomy between the cover and the unexpected intricacies of Evelyn's story was a clever deception on the author and publisher's part. Giving this book a title that mirrors tabloid headlines about a Hollywood icon is very in keeping with the way Evelyn is valued by the industry itself. An industry in which her worth is directly correlated to her appearance as Evelyn Hugo, the actress, while disregarding the complexities and intricacies present in Evelyn Herrera, the woman behind the icon. Watching Evelyn's story unfold was the most fun I've had all year. I couldn't put this book down. A reader might think they've got her figured out, and then Taylor Jenkins Reid goes ahead and peels back another layer. Part of me would love to shout from the rooftops some of the spoilers present in this story because I loved them, but I think the journey through to those revelations is too important to spoil. For a story set in the decades between 1950 and the present, the themes and political discourse that is threaded through the narrative are still stark and important. [image] For those of you who seek diversity in your stories, I hope you've got this novel on your radar. Evelyn and Monique are both WOC and there are more diverse characters as well. Taylor Jenkins Reid is a master at weaving their experiences as women with thematic elements of love, self-discovery and embracing truths that are not always self-evident into both her lead character's journeys. Their stories are topical, relevant and achingly real. They serve as an especially important reminder for those who might assign value onto women (and celebrity icons) for their appearance and status while failing to recognize the person behind the image - and that we all make flawed choices from time to time. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is brilliant, compelling and a triumph of my reading year thus far. I'm going to keep my eye out for more books by this author in the future. ★★★★★ = 5/5 stars ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 23, 2017
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Jul 27, 2017
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Jul 21, 2017
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Hardcover
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18
| 0230758460
| 9780230758469
| 0230758460
| 4.43
| 37,304
| Apr 01, 2014
| Mar 27, 2014
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it was amazing
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See this review and more like it at www.bookbastion.net _________ Related Reviews: Book I: Malice ★★★★★ Picking up exactly where Malice, left off, John Gw See this review and more like it at www.bookbastion.net _________ Related Reviews: Book I: Malice ★★★★★ Picking up exactly where Malice, left off, John Gwynne re-enters the epic fantasy foray with a stunning followup to his debut novel that I won't soon forget. Those who worry about picking up series written by a debut author, have no fear here because the story movement and character building here is just as lovingly crafted by Mr. Gwynne as it was in the first book. Whereas Malice is a bit slower in its delivery as it establishes the world, the characters and their places within it, Valour places its focus on getting that plot up and running, and from page one to the very end the characters are on the move, getting stuff done. There's a real tendency for fantasy to have brief moments of action followed by hundreds of pages of exposition and incredibly slow movement. Here, Gwynne focuses on keeping his plot rolling within constant movement and action scenes instead, giving Valour an almost frenetic pace in keeping with the chaos the characters endure as their world descends into turmoil and death. [image] Sometimes in fantasy that is told through shifting POV, there is a tendency to repeat information or see the same scenes unfold through various eyes, which I think is one of the traps of multiple perspectives. Gwynne deftly avoids them here, using shifting perspectives to create a finely woven tapestry of tension that lends the reader a better understanding of why things are unfolding the way they are, without boring them along the way. This entry to the series is darker than its predecessor in tone and content, as much of the world we come to love in the first book descends into war and political machinations. The real heart of the series continues to come from its characters. They are varied and well crafted, each presenting a distinct take on the world and situations unfolding through their unique POV chapters. I love them all, and the ancillary characters that surround them are just as easy to root for. When people are in danger or meet their demise here, it is always devastating and heartbreaking. The threat of my favorite characters being in danger created a very real compulsion for me to keep reading, to find out what was going to happen next. [image] While some plot points were a little too predictable for my taste, I do think that the overall movement, pace and thematic content present in the story was enough for me to overlook it and continue to enjoy the directions the story headed. Another aspect I particularly enjoy about Gwynne's writing is his ability to describe battle scenes! They are always epic, easy to envision and extremely fast-paced. While some scenes are particularly brutal, Valour places its focus on the horrors of war, rather than glorifying in it. I'm very excited to see where the series goes next. There's some crazy plot movement in this entry to the series that I can't wait to see built upon in the next book! Wherever the story goes next, I am certain that it will continue to be epic. [image] ★★★★★ = 5/5 stars ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 15, 2017
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Jul 23, 2017
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Jul 15, 2017
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Hardcover
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4
| 0062387030
| 9780062387035
| 0062387030
| 4.01
| 3,806
| Jun 16, 2015
| Jun 16, 2015
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it was amazing
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See this review and more on www.bookbastion.net! _______ Wow did I sleep on this one or what?! I mean, what an absolute smash this book is! I'm only sorr See this review and more on www.bookbastion.net! _______ Wow did I sleep on this one or what?! I mean, what an absolute smash this book is! I'm only sorry that it's been sitting untouched on my bookshelf for so long, because this book had everything I look for in a fantasy novel: darkness, death, betrayal, and one hell of an epic world to get lost in. [image] The older I get, the more I appreciate grimdark fantasy for all the exploring it allows authors and creative types to do within the genre. Gone are the princesses and noble knights filled with valour. There's no space for them - especially not in this book. Fletcher decisively settles this book in the muck and the mire of his world - and to great effect. The main characters are thieves, lunatics, and murderously destructive in their narcissistic schemes to advance their own place in the world. Fletcher does an awesome job both at introducing the world, and carefully identifying each character's place within it. By making each character's end goal clear at the very start, Fletcher masterfully sets them all at odds with one another. It made for a very tense read! You see the danger each character is about to walk into before they do, but it's never boring because Fletcher is also really great at subverting expectations along the way. [image] Speaking of the world, we've got to back just so I can bask in how amazing it is for a moment longer. Inspired by Germanic language, Fletcher's world is filled with unique sounding places, people and classifications for those therein. The scope, detail and creativity that must have gone into creating all this was amazing. I was reminded in a lot of ways of Jay Kristoff's Nevernight, another grimdark fantasy novel with a very memorable setting. If you enjoyed that novel, you absolutely must give this a go! The magic system was so unique and creative as well. Tying each character's powers to their sanity was a really daring choice, but it allows for the plot and characters to move in directions you as the reader never see coming. How can you guess what's going to happen next in a world where the very fabric of reality is tied to the character's sanity and belief system? Answer: you can't - so just enjoy the ride. [image] Lastly, I wanted to touch on the characters. I know earlier I pointed out they're all thieves and murderers, but there's definitely a sliding scale in terms of anti-hero vs. antagonist going on here. Some are downright evil, whereas the ones you want to root for are those living just beyond the path of redemption. You all know that I love my strong characters, (especially strong female characters) and this book has them in spades. Stehlen, Bedeckt and Gehrin were all so perfectly, wonderfully developed. Each was flawed, and looking out for themselves, but they had a lot of heart and I found myself rooting for them in their own weird way. [image] All in all, this has to be one of the most unique and exciting books that I've read in ages! I was especially delighted upon finishing to realize that this the first book in a series, because I did not want this to end! You can expect reviews for the next two books as soon as I can get my hands on them. In the meantime, let me just say: if you're going to give any underrated gem your time this year - let this be the one. ★★★★★ = 5 stars! ______ Follow me on instagram @bookbastion [image] ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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May 30, 2019
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May 30, 2019
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Jun 11, 2017
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Paperback
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17
| 0373212313
| 9780373212316
| 0373212313
| 4.10
| 47,593
| May 02, 2017
| May 02, 2017
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it was amazing
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See this review and more on www.bookbastion.net Related review: Wandfasted (The Black Witch 0.5): ★★★✯ I'd like to start off this review with a little wa See this review and more on www.bookbastion.net Related review: Wandfasted (The Black Witch 0.5): ★★★✯ I'd like to start off this review with a little warning to the naysayers for this book: if you're here to brigade me in the comments section and tell me how wrong I am for having an opinion that differs from your own, you can save it because your comment WILL be flagged and deleted. The opinions expressed in the review are my own, and no amount of abuse from the people who think it's okay to squash free thinking with nasty comments and twitter brigades will force me to change it. Don't like it, don't read it. Also, don't complain you're being treated unfairly after you rated a book 1-star before you even read it. [image] When I first realized what was happening to this book, I was disturbed. When I looked into it a bit more and realized how this all started, I was outright annoyed. Make no mistake: what happened to this book, its author, and its editors/Harlequin Teen was not fair. It was censorship. Now that I've read it myself, I can safely say that what happened to this book was wholly undeserved, and very likely perpetrated by a person who saw an opportunity to bolster her own image, while tearing down a debut author at the same time - because who cares if creative expression suffers as long as you prove to your followers how moral you are, right? The most disappointing part of all this drama has got to be how many people just went along with it, down-voting this book into oblivion without taking the time to read or think for themselves. At the time of my last post about this book, The Black Witch was sitting at a 2.08stars on Goodreads, with 473 reviews and 1,123 ratings. Just to update you all, today, the same book sits at a 2.80stars with 637 reviews and 1,173 ratings. It's definitely trending upwards, albeit slowly, and this increase can be attributed to the fact that the majority of those 150+ new reviews that have poured in have been mostly ranging from good-to-favorable. Why? Because those people actually read the book and thought for themselves before rating. Go figure, right? [image] I can't review this book without standing up against the culture on Goodreads that made this whole situation possible in the first place. How, how does this sort of thing happen? How do we as readers allow ourselves to become so jaded that we allow one fellow reviewer to totally decide our reading habits for us? One fellow reviewer with a nasty habit of using debut authors to bolster her own public image, I might add. Shouldn't we intellectual thinkers do the intellectual thing and actually check out these sort of things for ourselves? I get not wanting to support an author if you think the content is problematic, but at least get thineself to a library stat and do your own fact checking before you jump on every bandwagon you see. Especially when there are people's hopes, dreams and very livelihoods on the line. I cannot imagine spending years of my life writing a book only to have one single review set her twitter followers on me because she's looking for internet morality points. And lets be clear here that this is exactly what happened. There is something incredibly ironic in the fact that we as a community have placed a white woman's review on a pedestal and completely accepted her opinion on what is, or is not racist in the first place. I don't mean to imply that I think I have a complete handle on the subject either - but I'm encouraging people to do their own due diligence and find out for themselves, not acting like the creative expression police and asking my followers to torpedo a brand new author's debut book with allegations that are disingenuous at best, and slanderous at worst. She hits every buzzword she knew in her review, (racism, homophobia, abelism, assault, self-harm, and even name drops the holocaust along with more) while ignoring critical things like context or the simple fact that what she was reading is something we once celebrated as good storytelling before twitter and tumblr, and now Goodreads crowds decided feigning outrage at everything was the appropriate response and a healthy way to view the world. She calls this book about a FANTASY WORLD FILLED WITH SHAPESHIFTERS AND MADE UP CREATURES "dangerous". And the people attacking this book haven't stopped there. They continue to drum up negative conversation around this book, and encourage each other to brigade other books edited by Harlequin Teen. Oh, and they targeted Kirkus for daring to give this book an award. [image] Also, as a fellow reviewer, I have to say this: You owe it to your followers to acknowledge when the content/theme/or plot of a book was too offensive for you personally, to fully evaluate the literary aspects of the book with any degree of objectivity. There are quite a few moments in that original review where she mentions sobbing, and not being able to finish whole pages in the book because she was that deeply offended by it. It is her right to be offended, but if you're admitting to skipping over passages and allowing a book to take that level of emotional toll on you while reading it, it might be time to admit you've lost objectivity and can't review it without personal stances coloring your opinion of a work of fiction. There's actually very little literary analysis (if any) present in this original review. Which isn't all that surprising, because much of what this person wrote was originally live tweeted to her followers in the first place. And really, how much context can you truly impart to your followers with 140 characters? The answer - not much. Not only does that original review lack context in many areas and dangerously encourages the censorship of creative expression; it was also purposefully done to give this woman's blog, twitter handle and business, visibility while harming the chances of another person's livelihood and success. That's downright predatory behavior in my book, and if you're the type that needs to tear down others and encourage the destruction of another person's career to bolster your own internet identity, you seriously need to re-examine your priorities. Just saying. [image] It's like I woke up one day and suddenly found myself living in a world where people seek out things to be offended by, and to decry via social media as some sort of proof of how noble and virtuous they are. But you see, the thing is, when it comes to books or any form of creative expression you are not morally, legally or ethically obligated to read/watch/or listen to anything that doesn't appeal to you. That also means that you don't have the right to brigade new authors, editors and publishing houses because a particular book might offend you without actually reading it. I've made it quite clear by now that I believe that original review lacks context and purposefully misleads, but at least that reviewer took the time to read the damn book to fish out all those quotes. The rest of you who rated one star didn't even bother doing that. And that's wrong. Every time you rate a book 1 star without reading it, because of something you heard, you snuff out creative expression in the future. Also, a fairy loses its wings. This is how you get censorship guys. By demanding every story be told the way you want, you remove opportunities to see things from another perspective in the future. Basically, if you don't think you're going to like it, don't read it, and move on. Stop with the senseless slaughter of debut authors reputations and careers based off of rumor and half-truths. [image] {Now, as for The Black Witch itself} How ironic that the book that garnered so much controversy from keyboard warriors this year for being so offensive happens to be the most diverse book I've read this year, and also one of the most hopeful. This is a story about realizing how you may be a product of your environment and upbringing. This is a story about one woman realizing the dangers of the way she had been conditioned to think for her entire life, and overcoming those notions. This is a story about redemption and friendship and the beauty that comes with realizing that there is strength in diversity and multiculturalism. What I Loved: The world building is so great. Seriously, Laurie Forest thought this thing OUT! Lots of YA fantasy kind of half-asses the world building. If you're lucky you get a castle, royalty, and magic-imbibed human characters. However, here there are numerous fantasy races, and they're all so vastly different from one another. And they all have histories and legends and preconceived notions within their races that force them to challenge themselves and grow, and learn to trust each the people they once feared or hated over time. As a result, the world feels vast and real and lived in. It has not one history, but multiple histories and cultures for its creatures. And given that Elloren comes from such an incredibly sheltered background, she provides quite an interesting lens for the viewer to experience the diversity and promise of the world through. Similarly, the characters, their races, and their cultures are great. Elloren is obviously the most dynamic and well written character in the book. Given that she's so misguided at the start, I won't lie and say that I wasn't frustrated by her actions from time to time - but that's the point. She's overcoming years of an unhealthy upbringing and by the end I was rooting for the changes she was undergoing. And she's not the only one! The entire core cast at the school is so great. I believed in their friendship and I loved watching it grow and bloom over time as they all come to places of better understanding with each other. Their cultural heritages are each unique and so compelling. The characterization was just really well done in this book, and I've got to give it credit. There's some really lovely quotes mixed in during all that character growth, that really highlights why it's so important that Elloren and her friends continue to challenge themselves and learn to put aside everything they once knew. Such as: "Real education doesn't make your life easy. It complicates things and makes everything messy and disturbing. But the alternative Elloren Gardner, is to live your life based on injustice and lies." The Magical lore is intriguing and has a lot of potential to get even better! There was a lot of lore around the magic established in this book. Powerless though she may be, Elloren is surrounded by magical creatures and there's a lot of little magical moments thrown in regardless. I'm really excited to see where some of it goes next. [image] What I Didn't Love Elloren's aunt. Seriously, she can go fall in a hole for all I care. But as the source of all of Elloren's misguided ideas about race, she's supposed to be a character you hate, so this is definitely NOT a fault of the writer. I had one tiny complaint about a kiss between 2 characters. I'm not going to name them, because spoilers, but it seemed like they had just met and then were kissing. And while it doesn't end up being very important to the rest of story at all and can probably be chalked up to horny teens that comprise lots of YA, instalove still rubs me the wrong way. That ending though! I wanted more! It felt a tiny bit abrupt to me, especially because an event (a Ball) that had been spoken of earlier in the book doesn't get to actually take place, having been saved for book 3. I think that sort of made it feel a bit more cliffhanger-y than it absolutely needed to. Still, not even those minor complaints can distract from the fact that I loved this book. I kept going back and forth between 4 and 5 stars, but the way the characters develop and the way the world building unfolds really puts this one over the top for me. Besides, enough people railroaded this book unfairly that I think 5 stars from me is more than fair in this case. The Black Witch is a wonderful YA fantasy that deserves more credit than it gets. I thought it was so creative, compelling and important, despite what naysayers who have never read the book might have you think. [image] If you take anything away from this review, let it be this: Please, give this book a chance. At the very least, rethink your 1-star brigade reviews in the future. Allow authors their right to creative expression without getting offended on other people's behalf, especially when you're taking 1 (very biased) review completely at face value without doing your own due diligence. ★★★★★ = 5/5 "Give this book a chance!" stars ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jun 2017
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Jun 25, 2017
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Apr 24, 2017
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Hardcover
| ||||||||||||||
5
| 0316362476
| 9780316362474
| 0316362476
| 4.27
| 61,131
| Feb 21, 2017
| Feb 21, 2017
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it was amazing
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See this review and more like it on www.bookbastion.net! ______ As a book blogger, one tends to accumulate more books than one knows what to do with. Yo See this review and more like it on www.bookbastion.net! ______ As a book blogger, one tends to accumulate more books than one knows what to do with. You stop by bookstores or yard sales more often then you should. You hunt down ARCs of all the shiny new titles that haven’t even hit the shelves yet. If you’re really lucky, publishers sometimes surprise you with a book or two in the post. All of this adding and adding books to your collection ends up resulting in a backlog of titles you have every intention of reading, but struggle to find the time for. Deciding what to read next from my many shelves of owned and unread books has been my plight since I started book blogging in earnest. But finally having read this book, I wanted to start this review by making it very, very clear right off: I waited way too long to finally get around to reading this book! [image] Kings of the Wyld had absolutely everything that I look for in Fantasy: compelling and memorable characters, an engaging plotline, and wonderfully descriptive and lyrical writing that was drenched in humor that served to elevate this story from a standard fantasy adventure romp to something truly enchanting. It’s hard to believe that this is a debut novel – Eames’ narrative voice is that strong. There’s a flair for the dramatic throughout the story – not in a way that I found over-the-top – that rather lends itself very nicely to making this book an absolute page-turner from start to finish. One thing I really loved about the experience of reading this book is Eames’ ability to craft each chapter into what felt like their own miniature stories. Each chapter follows a natural rise and fall with an opening that hooks you, the middle is the meat of the “story” for that chapter and it’s followed by an ending that feels satisfying in that characters learn something important or experience growth, and you the reader is also hooked to continue the journey via the next thread Eames’ has laid out for you to follow. [image] Too often fantasy can feel bloated by pointless scenes and or plotlines that just meander or end up nowhere as authors pad the page count up toward the epic proportions that publishers are looking for. Eames has carefully crafted each and every detail of this world, of his characters and even of the humor and voice he uses to convey it all to the reader – creating what was to me a truly unique experience that stands apart from the fantasy genre as one to remember. The idea of mercenaries existing as this fantasy world’s version of actual rock stars is an incredibly fresh take on fantasy. They travel the realm, they have groupies, they have bards – the ones that survive the mayhem anyway – who sing their stories to crowds after the fighting has finished. The notion too that our heroes in this story are all aging rock stars (mercenaries) 20 years past their prime, called into action by one last noble and heroic quest brought such a huge smile to my face as it was enacted. By the end of the story, these characters were not just characters to me: they felt like old friends. [image] Art from Nicholas Eames’ official website. Art by Felix Ortiz It helps too that the characters are each so strongly built. They have backstories that are unique, and cultures that are different from one another. I was also pleasantly surprised to see a gay character represented among their ranks, and such a wonderfully memorable character at that! Fantasy involving multitudes of male characters also has the tendency to wash away or sanitize the emotional connection between the male characters. It’s really difficult to express the humanity within characters that are also the swords and shields of the realms that they live in. Eames’ was able to depict his band of mercenaries as both weapons against the darkness, but also as friends and brothers to one another. I was very pleasantly surprised to see how their connection to each other was written, and how those bonds grow over the course of the story too. [image] Also, I’ve just got to rave about how creative this all is. This book is pretty much steeped from page one in fantasy lore. It feels like a magical place, when characters are reminiscing about the beasts they’ve slain or facing down some new horror on their way through the Heartwyld. The first few chapters eases you into it, but before you know it you’re as surrounded by magic and mythology as the characters are. This is helped too by the fact that the characters aren’t all generic human beings. Yes, the human mercenaries make up the main cast, but there are other fantasy races that rise up into the spotlight along the way. The Druin were a fabulous addition that I was fascinated by and can’t wait to continue to learn more about. Also, I’m just going to say it now, Gregor and Dane were such fantastically conceived characters – they might have been my favorite in the entire book. [image] The plot expands in similar ways along with the lore of the world. As the characters move closer to their destination, the reader is naturally exposed to more and more information that is both important to the history of the world, and serves to further the plot. There’s constant movement here from a clear beginning, through a frenetic journey, to a very satisfying conclusion. If you’ve read any of my reviews, and you’re going to give any book I recommend a try this year, make it this one. I actually ran right out and bought the sequel, Bloody Rose, before I’d even finished this book – that’s how much I was enjoying it. Nicholas Eames has deservedly captured my attention and gained a new fan – while I’m the lucky one who has gained a new book to shelve with the rest of my favorite fantasy novels. ★★★★★ = 5 out of 5 stars - a new favorite for me! ______ [image]Follow me on Instagram@bookbastion ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jun 07, 2019
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Jun 12, 2019
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Feb 25, 2017
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Paperback
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12
| B0DWVLKYR5
| 3.92
| 158,573
| Jul 08, 2014
| Jul 08, 2014
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it was amazing
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This book is a triumph of its genre! Okay, that may be overstating things only slightly (there were a couple of tiny things I took issue with) but I th This book is a triumph of its genre! Okay, that may be overstating things only slightly (there were a couple of tiny things I took issue with) but I think it fair to overlook those small things in this case. Especially considering how unfair, reactionary and very nearly malicious I think some of the top-rated reviews for this book here on Goodreads are. [image] Warning: strong opinions incoming! I want to start out here by apologizing for what's to come. I was a bit heated while I wrote it and tried to go back after a time and pare it down a bit so as not to offend. It's just that I was so surprised when I finished this book and rushed to Goodreads to look through the reviews from the community only to find a spate of top-rated one star reviews awaiting me and every other person who ever looks this book up. This is NOT a one-star book. To imply that it is when you have thousands of people who look to you for guidance should be criminal, or at the very least, frowned highly upon by the community at large and the people that actually did read this book. I have to wonder as to the state of mind of that particular reviewer when they read it and reviewed it. Were they in a reading slump? Are they fans of the fantasy genre? Were they looking outside of their own personal feelings about love-triangles or female main characters as they read? Were they critically examining the structure of the prose when they determined that the book was only worthy of one star?? Were they considering the damage they do when they have a large following and rate a book that is well written but did not meet their own [image] When I think of the thousands of readers out there that would otherwise have loved this book, but were turned off of it by these reviews, my heart literally aches. This is how we end up with 50 Shades of Grey and Twilight people! This is how we get books devoid of emotion and heart. Books that are poorly written and full of smirking love interests with smoldering eyes that have weak-ass main characters flopping back and forth between their convictions and their love of boys. Books that we have read a thousand times before and will read again. It's one thing to DNF a book and make that clear within a concise review as to why the book just didn't work for you. It's another thing entirely to deliver a scathing and extremely long review about said book to your thousands of followers and then point out at the very bottom in an offhanded manner that you didn't actually finish reading it after you've finished humiliating a person who took time and energy to write it. [image] I'm not saying that we can't all have opinions, or that this book is perfect, but to overlook ALL of the many positives within it and potentially turn off everyone who sees your review in the future is so unfair to the author, the genre and the readers who follow you. when there are WAY WORSE written books out there. Yes, there's a love triangle in it but if we're being honest about it: It is extremely understated and this is also one of the rare cases in which a love triangle actually WORKS! Those of you who know me, also know that I am the biggest opponent of love triangles in YA fiction. My last review actually railed against them completely. That being said, even I could bear the one here because it works so well within this story. Not to mention that it is almost fully resolved by the very end due to Lia's character arc. And yes, Lia starts off in the cliche fantasy princess role, but lets also not overlook the fact that she experiences a ton of growth. The character at the end of the book is entirely changed from the naive and idealistic teen she starts out as, and that's the point. The whole novel is proliferated by the thematic idea that events larger than ourselves destroy who think we are and change us into someone new. She had to start where she did or her arc wouldn't have worked. But sure, lets rail against this book and give it one star because it has a princess in it. [image] Also, the prose in this book is incredibly beautiful. Pearson has such a command of language. Every word is included for a reason. It's flowery, but never to the point of becoming purple prose. Instead, each word works together to create a rich and beautiful world that I fell in love with. This is one of my favorite fantasy world I've read in recent months. I see some of the reviews complaining that the book wasn't magical enough for fantasy, all the while overlooking the fact that Pearson, with her striking command of language and insidiously delivered worldbuilding talents was the true magician here. The one thing I wanted more of in this book was more of a backstory for some of the ancillary characters around the 3 main characters, but I'm willing to overlook my own personal preferences in order to give this book a score that's a tad more realistic, if we're being honest. ★★★★★ = 4.5 stars & a new favorite for me! _______________________________ See this review, and more like it on my blog: Book Bastion ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Mar 11, 2017
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Mar 19, 2017
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Feb 15, 2017
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ebook
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22
| 1447259688
| 9781447259688
| 1447259688
| 4.53
| 28,882
| Nov 17, 2016
| Nov 17, 2016
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it was amazing
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See this review on www.bookbastion.net __________ [image] And so ends the most epic journey in fantasy fiction I've been on so far this year. In terms of See this review on www.bookbastion.net __________ [image] And so ends the most epic journey in fantasy fiction I've been on so far this year. In terms of sheer fantasy awesomeness, this book has it all: battles to the death, memorable character moments and a culmination of 4 books worth of material that I won't soon forget. John Gwynne has solidified himself in my mind as a powerhouse name to remember in the fantasy genre, and I will forever keep an eye out for books for future offerings from him. As I'm fairly certain he reads his reviews, I'd like to say: You do great work Mr. Gwynne! I'm a big fan! [image] Thematically, Wrath hits all the right notes in the way it sets about closing out the storylines that have been spun since page one, when we first walked into the Banished Lands alongside a young Corban. While the battle between Good and Evil isn't a new concept, John Gywnne's strength in crafting realistic and human characters that you want to root for - or to root against - makes this book stand out as a must read. I was never for an instant bored as I watched the characters I had grown accustomed to set off on their final journey against the forces of darkness. Everyone comes full circle in this book. As those of you who have been following my reviews will know, I hate spoilers, so I'm going to avoid naming characters specifically for fear of spoiling who lives and who crosses the bridge of swords. Still, regardless of who lives or who dies, the endings to each character's story aligns beautifully with the people they were in Malice, years before the turmoil and war began, but also compliments all of the beautiful character growth that they've experienced over the years. Through all the death, heartache and strife, these characters retained their emotional heart and my connection to them is still so strong that I hate the thought of their story being over. [image] I would happily take another 4 books set in the Banished Lands, following up on the events here just so I don't lose out on seeing my book babies keep growing and changing now that this particular story is over. As always, the battle scenes are the real crowning glory of this series, and in fact it just keeps getting better and better with each book. It's clear that John Gwynne is quite familiar with close combat battle practices - whether it be via research or the careful study of other works of fiction, I'm unsure as I can't speak on the technicalities of it all. It all flows and works beautifully to paint tense and always moving fight scenes that have only increased in scope as the story moved along. [image] The last quarter of this book is centered around the final battle in the war for control of the Banished Lands, and it does not disappoint! It's epic in scale, and involves every single character, kingdom, giant clan and species of creature that we've come across in an epic battle to the death. The scale of this final skirmish is just enormous, and only a tactical mind such as this author could handle drawing all of those threads together over the scope of 4 books to see things to their close. [image] My emotions ran the gamut while reading this book! I was laughing one moment, cheering in the next breath only to be brought to tears a few pages later - and I wouldn't have it any other way. The emotion is right there in the characters, within their interactions and the ease with with the reader can relate to their worries, goals and cares. I can easily see this series holding great appeal for fans of series like Game of Thrones, who want strongly built characters but also aren't afraid to say goodbye to some along the way as John Gwynne is another author who isn't shy about culling the herd when the story calls for it. One thing I really wanted to point out as my absolute favorite aspects of this series is the way things evolve and change over time. Characters grow, and their hopes and desires are influenced by the things that happen around them. It's delightful to think that things are going to go one way for a certain character, or for two characters you think are going to clash, only to have a plot event impact that course of motion and set them off on a new journey. It kept things fresh and allowed the plot and characters both to grow organically without seeming forced forward on rails like some plots certainly feel like at times when authors forget to let characters guide them. Again, if you're a fan of tense, action-oriented epic fantasy, this series needs to be on your radar if it's not already! Get going and start the journey today!! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ = 5/5 Perfect Stars from me! A new favorite series for my shelf! [image]Image taken from my bookstagram @bookbastion. Follow me there for more snaps of the books I read and review! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Sep 24, 2017
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Oct 03, 2017
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Feb 11, 2017
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Hardcover
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20
| 1447259645
| 9781447259640
| 1447259645
| 4.50
| 31,240
| Jul 16, 2015
| Mar 10, 2016
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it was amazing
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See this review and more like it on www.bookbastion.net! _________ John Gwynne, how could you hurt me like this? [image] I'm going to need some time to h See this review and more like it on www.bookbastion.net! _________ John Gwynne, how could you hurt me like this? [image] I'm going to need some time to heal after this one. Engaging, fast-paced, and thoroughly brutal, I feel like Ruin certainly lived up to its name, because that's what it tried to do to my heart a few times over. One of my favorite aspects of this series since the beginning has been the characters. John Gwynne has an exceptional ability to craft distinct and diverse characters that feel real and grow with each turn of events. Comparing the characters who have managed to survive the dangers and betrayals that are so rife in their world, to the people they were in book 1 is like night and day. It’s been like watching my own little book babies grow up, from naïve children, to driven and oftentimes dangerous adult characters who will do whatever it takes to survive another day as their entire political system descends into the chaos of war. Regardless of what side the characters fall on, they are deeply layered and richly drawn. They all feel real. I’m trying to shy away from actually naming names here, because I don’t want to spoil who lives and who dies, but I do want to give a shoutout to my particular faves, Maquin and Fidele. For two side characters that I didn’t expect much of after the first book in the series, both have come so far and quickly risen the ranks in terms of likability. This is a prime example of why I love this series so much. Not many authors are skilled enough to take side characters and build them up so well that you come to root for them as though they are minor protagonists themselves. John Gwynne is exceptional at cranking out those finer details in the characters’ lives and interpersonal relationships that makes it so easy to connect with them and come to care about them, as well as to understand where they’re coming from in their motives too. [image] I fully believe that as this series continues to find its audience over the years, John Gwynne will build a lasting reputation in fantasy that could easily stand beside the likes of George R.R. Martin. His storytelling skills rival Martin’s in terms of scale and scope of the story, as well as the sheer brutality he unflinchingly forces on the characters again and again over the extent of the series. Each time I pick up one of these books I try to remind myself not to get too attached to anyone, because they’re all vulnerable and they’re all at risk. Of course, I’m terrible at actually putting that into practice, which makes for some extremely tense reading! Make no mistake, the stakes in this world are incredibly high. Life and death hang in the balance of every decision made. I actually found myself getting a little bit heated when my favorites were placed into dangerous situations, or when the bad guys would manage to pull off some sort of nefarious scheme. If I had any complaint about this series at all it’s probably connected to the last paragraph - in that at times the sheer despair the characters face seems a bit too high. There were moments here that I actually found myself wishing the series had been 3 books instead of 4, because it’s become a bit difficult to continue watching the bad guys win and the good guys suffer at their hands. I’m very hopeful that we’re going to see them all get their comeuppance in the final entry to the series though, so I have heart John Gwynne knows what he’s doing here and is planning on making it worth it in the end. At times it feels a bit masochistic to continue watching my favorites subjected to terrible horrors, but on the other hand, this is how this series has developed so many great, strong and memorable characters. So it’s a bit of a toss-up. Those of you who know you like that aspect of Game of Thrones would probably find a lot to love in this series. Honestly, I could see this being adapted to a television series one day and becoming quite successful on its own in a similar way to Martin’s series. That’s how epic the story continues to be. Gwynne’s writing style is continuing to refine itself as well, and I feel like he’s done well at adapting a style that both flows, and befits the pace of fantasy on this epic a scale. The prose takes the time to describe the necessary things that set each scene, but the action flows at you in ever increasing pace until that final confrontation scene which I felt was much more intense than anything Gwynne has written thus far. [image] This remains an epic and truly enjoyable journey. I’m shocked that more people haven’t read and reviewed this series yet. If you’ve noticed a lot of your friends proclaiming that this series is awesome, there is a definite reason for it. If you like well-developed characters, fully realized plot and action sequences, and some bomb fantasy creatures, this series is one for you! [image] Onwards to book 4! ★★★★★ = 5 out of 5 stars! ________ Related Reviews: Book I: Malice ★★★★★ Book II: Valour★★★★★ ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Aug 30, 2017
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Sep 05, 2017
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Feb 11, 2017
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Mass Market Paperback
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10
| 0553499165
| 9780553499162
| 0553499165
| 4.43
| 80,307
| Oct 18, 2016
| Oct 18, 2016
|
it was amazing
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AMIE KAUFMAN, JAY KRISTOFF, YOU GOT ME AGAIN! [image]I would like it to be known that I hold both of them responsible for all the added stress in my li AMIE KAUFMAN, JAY KRISTOFF, YOU GOT ME AGAIN! [image]I would like it to be known that I hold both of them responsible for all the added stress in my life while I read this series. I swear, it's like an excerise in stress management every time I opened up this book. I haven't been so hooked on a story in quite some time. When I was reading, I was basically devouring hundreds of pages at a time and in those terrible times when I had to put the book down for a moment due to real life obligations -times I refer to as "the dark ages"- it was always there, waiting in the back of my mind like some psychotropic space monster to feast on my brain. [image] I feel like even if you're not a fan of the sci-fi genre as a whole, you should still give these books a chance just to experience how masterfully plotted and executed they are. Every encounter, conversation and transcribed moment leads somewhere important. This book does place a slightly heavier emphasis on the sciencey stuff [image] If I had one complaint, it was the sheer number of characters in the book. There are so many that actual pictures of some of them are included to help the reader pin down distinguish them from one another. That being said, given that they're all ancillary characters and the core cast of a story ultimately grounded in action and suspense I can overlook it. Also lets talk about the quality of the female leads of this series. SERIOUSLY, I LOVE THEM BOTH SO MUCH! The gay boy at heart who always wanted to grow up to be Sigorney Weaver in Aliens has absolutely found new fictional idols in Kady and Hanna. [image] I love self-sufficient, kick ass female characters. I'll take them over the angsty boy-obsessed hollow characters that drag down some otherwise great stories. I was really pleasantly surprised by this series! It's engaging, fast paced and expertly crafted with dynamic characters that I loved from page 1. I can't wait to see where the story takes us next! 5/5 stars! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Feb 11, 2017
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Feb 16, 2017
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Feb 09, 2017
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Library Binding
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16
| 1250048117
| 9781250048110
| 1250048117
| 3.92
| 1,066,895
| Jun 05, 2012
| Jun 05, 2012
|
it was amazing
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See this review and more on www.bookbastion.net! Leigh Bardugo, you glorious, talented woman, you've done it again! Six of Crows captured my heart when See this review and more on www.bookbastion.net! Leigh Bardugo, you glorious, talented woman, you've done it again! Six of Crows captured my heart when I read it back at the end of January, yet this book took any established expectations I had and blew them out of the water! I know it's kind of a weird opinion, but I ended up enjoying this slightly more than SoC. I do think this is entirely my fault, as I'm now convinced that I should have read this series first! If you're wondering where to start, do yourself a favor and start here. There is so much worldbuilding in this book that give a lot of events and characters in SoC context that I struggled to figure out for myself when I was reading that book. While SoC definitely feels more ambitious than this one in terms of the scope of the story, this book became more compelling for me personally because of the way the world is introduced, the characters and plotting. The setting and magic system are both crazy good here. This is the perfect introduction to Ravka, and to the way the whole Grisha society works. Alina is such a great foil for the audience to experience the world through. As she becomes acquainted with things outside her realm of understanding, so too does the reader. It's not confusing or over simplified either, it's just casually injected into nearly every moment of the story; it all serves a purpose. Plus, I loved the gorgeous Russian vibes in this book, just as much as I did in SoC. Speaking of Alina, can I just take this moment to point out how much I liked her? I really enjoyed that while she was powerful and those powers were very necessary to the plot, Leigh Bardugo makes the conscious choice to have those powers be entirely passive. She can't cause harm with them, and can't defend herself from harm, and yet she's pivitol to events because of them. It allowed for the suspense to ramp up quite nicely, having a magically imbibed character in YA not be a total mary sue for once. As great as Alina was, the Darkling was 10x better and definitely my favorite character in the story. This is a character with depth, who believes in his motivations fully and with conviction. I understood him, and related to him and in some strange ways even rooted for him. Also, as I said to Chelsea during our buddy read, it definitely felt like the Darkling was written with a heavy sexual subtext. It's never erotic, and in fact I think many teens would completely miss it, but it's present in every conversation he has with Alina and it makes this series a joy to read now, as an adult. Lastly, the plotting itself is phenomenal. This is a real hero's journey from start to finish. I was glad that Bardugo didn't spend an outrageous amount of time showing us Alina's training. Rather, she skips ahead in order to really get to the good stuff. It allowed Alina to do her natural growth in power off-screen, without boring the readers, which I appreciated. One pet peeve I have with a lot of YA stories pertaining to magic is that they get bogged down in trying to prove their character isn't a Mary Sue by making them suffer and stink at training for the entire book, neglecting the plot. That isn't the case here, as Bardugo briefly has Alina stuggle, but quickly moves her on so she can stuggle with actual plot points, rather than mindnumbing training. I'm so excited to see where the story goes next! Onwards to book 2! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 = a new favorite for me! ____________________ Let the buddy-read begin ⚜ Chelsea Humphrey I am SO excited to be jumping back into the world of the Grisha before reading Crooked Kingdom later this year. <3 ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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May 14, 2017
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May 18, 2017
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Jan 20, 2017
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Hardcover
| ||||||||||||||
11
| 0553499114
| 9780553499117
| 0553499114
| 4.24
| 159,173
| Oct 20, 2015
| Oct 20, 2015
|
it was amazing
|
[image] I was quite literally rendered speechless by this book. Speechless to the point that this review is probably the most difficult one I've writte [image] I was quite literally rendered speechless by this book. Speechless to the point that this review is probably the most difficult one I've written thus far. I cannot remember the last time that I was this engrossed in a story! I could not put this book down! Illuminae lays out its plot, exposition and dialogue in an original way that hooked me right from the start and kept me up at night way later than I should have been because I just had to get a few more pages in. [image] There are just so many positives about this book: The setting; the characters; the plot, it all worked for me. With a narrative told entirely in epistolary format (through transcriptions, recordings, instant messaging conversations, etc.) it can be really easy to lose one or all of those things in the conversations. That didn't happen here. Every. Single. Word. is used to establish a tense and atmospheric world as well as to center the characters within it. When events start unfolding down the line it all makes sense in a way that feels like you should have seen it coming. [image] The characters are out of this world! There's nothing worse than finding an otherwise great book proliferated with weak characters. Have no fear here folks, because our leading characters are vivid and full of life. I was rooting for them the entire way through and my feminist heart swells when I think of Kady Grant, one of my favorite female characters of all time [image] I cannot recommend this book enough! Please, even if you don't like reading, go out and give this one a chance. It's a super quick burn and you won't regret it, or forget it any time soon. I'll definitely be revisiting this one a lot in the future. ★★★★★ = 5 stars, this book is AMAZING. Read it! Buddy read with: Troy Mallory Please, if you enjoy my reviews, feel free to friend me and follow my blog at Book Bastion. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Feb 04, 2017
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Feb 09, 2017
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Jan 16, 2017
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Hardcover
| ||||||||||||||
21
| 4.31
| 1,865,955
| Sep 20, 2011
| Apr 12, 2012
|
it was amazing
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See this review and more at www.bookbastion.net! "I could recognize him by touch alone, by smell; I would know him blind, by the way his breaths came a See this review and more at www.bookbastion.net! "I could recognize him by touch alone, by smell; I would know him blind, by the way his breaths came and his feet struck the earth. I would know him in death, at the end of the world." [image] Stunning. Wonderfully written and absolutely transcendent. Madeline Miller managed to transform the essentials of the story of Achilles into a fresh and heart-wrenching examination of love, pride and vanity that does great honor to the mythology that inspired this work of fiction. You can feel the love and time that Miller poured into this herculean effort to tell a different side of Achilles' story that is oft overlooked by his greater legend as a warrior. This is not a story about his feats of bravery and strength which are so focused on, but rather Miller seeks to ground the character's humanity in a greater story of love, and what it makes of all men. While the exact nature of Achilles and Patroclus' relationship has been long debated, Miller expands upon the Classical theory that a hidden romance between the two warriors in order to paint Achilles in the most mortal light I think I've ever seen his character shown in. “This, I say. This and this. The way his hair looked in summer sun. His face when he ran. His eyes, solemn as an owl at lessons. This and this and this. So many moments of happiness, crowding forward.” Unflinching in her examination of the highly debated nature of their relationship, Achilles and Patroclus' connection as lovers rang so truthful to me, as a gay men. I saw a lot of myself and my own experiences reflected in these characters doubts and fears; in their hopes and love for one another. I have to commend the author for her ability to so accurately capture the experiences involved in a romance between two men. It was painful and beautiful and always hit close to home. [image] At times it was devastating and frustrating to watch these two characters tossed and pulled apart by their society's wavering acceptance of who they were to one another. Miller uses the contested nature of their relationship in our world today to her advantage, highlighting the beauty of their love within the struggle to retain acceptance among their peers. It's done to great effect, serving to develop both men with the very same hopes and fears felt by LGBTQIA individuals across the world today. The prose deserves its own applause. Miller's command of language and description made me an instant fan of her as an author. It's flowery without becoming purple prose, and it always served to re-center the romance between Achilles and Patroclus as the central and most beautiful/hopeful aspect of the dangerous world that they lived in. It's a trifle slower than one might expect upon starting, but only because this story does not live within Achilles status as a warrior. Its heart lies within the quieter moments between the characters, and their love for one another. I give it 4.5 stars only because I had a bit of trouble at the beginning of the book - keeping all of the names and places straight in my head. By chapter 4 or so I had oriented myself though and found myself really enjoying the story. Also, Achilles and his hubris really did kill me at times, but in keeping with his traditional role in mythology, his mentality is understandable. It's painful and difficult to read at times, but always romantic and always beautiful. A new favorite for my bookshelf! 4.5 out of 5 stars! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Sep 11, 2017
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Sep 23, 2017
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Jan 15, 2017
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Paperback
| |||||||||||||||||
15
| 0062422286
| 9780062422286
| 0062422286
| 3.87
| 32,663
| Mar 14, 2017
| Mar 14, 2017
|
really liked it
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See this review and on my blog: www.bookbastion.net This was STUNNING. [image]^ Actual gif of me reading most of this book. Okay, not really, but it abo See this review and on my blog: www.bookbastion.net This was STUNNING. [image]^ Actual gif of me reading most of this book. Okay, not really, but it about sums up my feelings. Retellings are a difficult thing to go into because you never know how they're going to turn out: how you're going to feel if the story is too similar so it feels boring to read; or if it diverges too greatly from the source material that you feel it's done the original an injustice. Neither was the case for me here. Hunted sets itself apart from the commonly known fairytale with distinctive characters, and few twists on the most recognizable moments from the story. Spooner's prose took this to the next level for me in many ways. It is magical and lyrical and feels very much in keeping with the spirit of classically told fairytales. [image] One of the wonderfully macabre things about a lot of classic fairytales that mainstream audiences (who don't read) are not aware of is the dark tonal quality present in a lot of them. Spooner takes inspiration from that and weaves darkness and light together into a tapestry of memorable moments that stand apart from the original in a lot of ways, but are respectful to it all the same. The most important aspect of the story is without a doubt, Beauty. My introduction to Beauty and the Beast was of course the Disney version. I've always felt a sort of kinship with Belle, ever since I was a kid. She loves books; she's a bit socially awkward, and she's full of hope for her future. So, I was glad to see that Yeva was quite in keeping with that characterization, but I will say that I really enjoyed her added strengths. This was a Beauty who didn't need no man for a lot of this story, and that was more than okay. That was great! [image] Of course, when she inevitably does become involved in the romantic aspects of the story that we all know and love, it's on her own terms and is entirely her own motivation. I respected the journey that she takes, and Spooner for sending her on it. Of course, we have to talk about our Beast too: [image] He might be more bite than bark in this particular retelling, but I wouldn't have it any other way. His journey is just as important as the one that Yeva takes, and I particularly enjoyed some of the most pivotal moments involving his character, especially in the final act of the book. Because I have to explain why I'm rating this the way I am, I will say that I wanted to see a bit more of the world! We know this is a Russian folklore inspired retelling, but beyond that and a few creatures from legends being thrown in, I felt like the world outside of the forest and castle that Yeva and the Beast occupied felt quite small. It helped make their dynamic more intimate, for sure, but even the Beast's background is left in shadows that I had hoped Spooner would illuminate by the end of the story. This was a fabulous book. It's a respectful take on the material, and a true homage to classic fairytales. I just loved it. I consider it a new favorite, and Spooner an author I look forward to reading more from in the future. ★★★★✯ = 4.5 out of 5 stars ______________________ My third buddy read with my buddy Joshua Gabriel (Forever Bookish Josh)!I'm dying to crack into this one! The cover is just so gorgeous, it's been calling to me for a couple weeks now. I'm hoping for a mix of this: ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Apr 24, 2017
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May 03, 2017
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Jan 10, 2017
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Hardcover
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Bentley ★ Bookbastion.net
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