|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
my rating |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1250245281
| 9781250245281
| 1250245281
| 4.34
| 61,832
| Sep 07, 2021
| Sep 14, 2021
|
it was amazing
|
Books over 700 pages are scary. Vampires are, too, though they tend to be romanticized in a lot of modern fiction. Not here! I had no clue what to exp
Books over 700 pages are scary. Vampires are, too, though they tend to be romanticized in a lot of modern fiction. Not here! I had no clue what to expect from Empire of the Vampire since I’ve only ever read Kritoff’s collaborative works, so I was pretty blown away when this beast of a novel snuck up on me to become one of my new favourites. “In the darkness, we find our true selves.” Surprisingly enough, one of my favourite things about Empire of the Vampire was its religious themes and commentary, as well as its dual perspectives and 'interview with the vampire' reminiscent storytelling. ‘Daysdeath’ has left the world in never-ending darkness. Upon being discovered as a half-vampire, our protagonist Gabriel is taken to a monastery to train as a Silversaint (vampire slayer) amongst other halfbloods where he is surrounded by believers and deeply entrenched in the One Faith from a young age. The dual timeline peaked my curiosity early on, since it perpetuated the contrast between the devout young Gabriel versus his significantly older, battle-hardened and faithless self. I was dying to know what events led up to his change of heart, and the result was a harrowing journey that contained a lot of insight and questioning that I—as a non-religious person who grew up in a somewhat religious environment—could deeply relate to. “In the end, it is not immortality that we crave, but the memory of a life well lived.” It took me a while to get into EotV. Really long books tend to have really long buildup, and while that wasn’t necessarily the case with this one, I just wasn’t attached to the characters in the beginning. Instead it was the world-building and constant, well-described action scenes that kept me flipping pages. The tension never stopped, with consistently creepy villains keeping the stakes high at all times. Once I started really enjoying the characters alongside the story, things became fantastic, and stayed that way. It was around the halfway point when I really started enjoying Gabriel as a protagonist, and also got the feeling that Aaron de Coste was creeping up as my favourite character. It’s been forever since I read a good enemies-to-friends arc, and the completion of Gabriel and Aaron’s was so beautiful it nearly brought me to tears. It warmed my heart so much to see Gabriel stand with and defend Aaron against the homophobia in the monastery, even when he initially had to step back and question his beliefs upon discovering Aaron and Baptiste together. His questionings regarding the supposed ‘sin’ he had noticed, as well as his comparison and reflection upon the sin he and Astrid were committing, all added onto my appreciation for the religious commentary in this book. I adored seeing Gabe finally embrace Aaron as a brother, while Aaron realized he never had to be distrustful of him. They were each other’s solace for a short while as teens, making their eventual reunion as adults so sweet. “God stood with us, Baptiste and me, as we faced down a dark that seeks to consume all men. All men. And if your God would name my love a sin, then he’s no God I know.” The final third of EotV blew me away. Every fight had me on the edge of my seat, worried for who would die next and what vampires would escape. Both perspectives were extremely entertaining, and I started finding that I had little preference for one over the other. The art in my edition heightened the story even further, with the art style feeling reminiscent of stained glass that might appear throughout the monastery Gabriel spent years of his life training in. The big twist about Gabe’s family broke my heart, though his demeanor in the older perspectives finally made sense because of it. Everything was unputdownable from then on, with really great fights and plot twists carrying this first instalment to its final page. I’m glad to have waited a while before reading EotV, since the sequel is releasing soon! This book gives me hope for the resurgence of vampires depicted in a horror-y way, even though the story culminates to so much more than just that. I’ll be eagerly awaiting Empire of the Damned; this book was too good! “Hope is a flame that can never truly be extinguished, no matter how dark the night becomes.”...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Dec 22, 2023
|
Jan 03, 2024
|
Dec 22, 2023
|
Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
0062946196
| 9780062946195
| B0BNJ5NJ33
| 4.54
| 15,385
| Nov 14, 2023
| Nov 14, 2023
|
it was amazing
|
Add another diabolical book two cliffhanger to the list of C.S. Pacat's crimes! (I'm looking at you, Prince's Gambit). At this point, I'm convinced Pa
Add another diabolical book two cliffhanger to the list of C.S. Pacat's crimes! (I'm looking at you, Prince's Gambit). At this point, I'm convinced Pacat keeps a jar of her readers' souls, all of which died after having to bear the stress of waiting for a series-finisher that'll resolve all that's been left to ruin. I waited over a year for this book, somewhat absolved of pain, but this??? This will be a true test of strength. Good luck and hold strong to my fellow Dark Rise enjoyers. "He felt his eyes welling with tears. It was wonder and relief and rightness. 'It cannot be dark where there is light.' The old words rose to his lips. 'Where there is darkness, there will always be a Lightbringer.'" On a more serious note, Dark Heir was an incredibly good sequel—one that builds upon its predecessor to greatly heighten the scope of the world, character backstories and general sense of impending doom. There felt a great shift in Will after his discovery about himself in Dark Rise, and I couldn't help the twist of excitement while witnessing him descend into uncertainty, and the pull of something from the past that may very well be out of his control. In Dark Rise, I used to think of Will as a sort of backseat protagonist who let the side characters shine above himself. Now, there's been a shift, and this time around its undoubtable that Pacat wields an even darker tone in order to make Will a more standout protagonist. His internal war with himself, and the uncontrollable desires connected to Sarcean—especially when James is thrown into the mix—make for some delicious tension. Visander was another standout addition to this book. I've never read from the perspective of a 'reborn' character quite like him before, so his povs quickly became one of, if not the most intriguing to me. The twisted situation surrounding Elizabeth and Katherine served as the perfect background for his entrance: a back-from-the-dead girl who's not really said girl, but a male warrior of the light reborn into her corpse with every memory of his own life, and none of hers. I'm obsessed with him. Visander's discontent with the new world and determination to piss everyone around him off was never not funny. Though his genuine attempts to get through to Devon, and his newfound tension with Phillip were both real sources of intrigue towards his character and personal journey. "James lay like a sleeping Ganymede, his enervated beauty belying the cruelty and destruction he had rained down on the Stewards. Ah. Last but not least we have the problem child. James. My love for him is best represented by the shocked silences and genuine panic that ensued within me every time anything even slightly inconvenient happened to him in this book. And maybe whenever he acts or says things that are less than subtle about Will, you know, breathing in his proximity. Existing. The likes. (They make me insane) (the cliffhanger!!!!!!!!!!!!) On the bright side, my most anticipated release of the year exceeded my expectations. I'm beyond excited to see what'll happen next, and if these characters will get the happy ending they deserve. Anyways, cheers to everyone that will be enduring this pain for another year-ish as we await the end of this trilogy! ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Nov 29, 2023
|
Dec 15, 2023
|
Nov 29, 2023
|
Kindle Edition
| |||||||||||||||
B0DVFBG68B
| unknown
| 4.57
| 17,306
| Apr 13, 2024
| Apr 13, 2024
|
it was amazing
|
It’s been more than ten years since The Foxhole Court was first published, and we all know how late additions to previously completed series tend to g
It’s been more than ten years since The Foxhole Court was first published, and we all know how late additions to previously completed series tend to go. That is to say I’m amazed at how perfect and true to the originals The Sunshine Court was, even with the complete shift from Neil’s narration to a new dual POV between Jeremy & Jean. Dare I even say this was the best AFTG book yet? I don’t think it’s much of a stretch with how heart-wrenchingly jean’s trauma has been laid out, and how carefully his slow journey to healing is being articulated, with no sparing of ups or downs and an incredible support system surrounding him. To me, Jean’s story is somehow even more sorrowful than Andrew’s, Neil’s or Kevin’s. That’s something I never thought I’d say, but the juxtaposition of Neil having excessive boundaries surrounding his trauma, while Jean has nearly none because it’s the only way he can bear the pain? Oh I’m a mess. And Jeremy…. the ‘sunshine’ court being his team’s nickname can surely be attributed to him, Laila and Cat, because the careful kindness they showed Jean as he struggled to, but finally (with their help) accepted that he didn’t deserve the Ravens’ abuse broke my heart in a good way. Jean experiencing true friendships paired with kind words and affection for the first time really meant the world to me. I felt like I was on the verge of tears for Jean for almost this entire book (cried in a few places too), but the emotional whiplash all felt worth it as he began opening up little by little to not only those around him, but to himself. The self-deprecating lies he’d forced himself to believe in order to make sense of the abuse he’d endured were finally crumbling, and I was beyond overjoyed seeing Jeremy and the others work him through parts of it. I’m rambling so much but god, Jean has my heart and I loved this book so very much. Then there’s Jean and Jeremy and their very unsubtle (and sickeningly sweet) pining for one another. I know these two both have their reasons not to make a move, but the trajectory of their relationship is abundantly more clear than it was for Neil and Andrew in TFC. Jeremy’s care for Jean’s well-being is unabashed and at times, painful. He wants more than anything to see Jean heal from his unspeakable trauma, and he refuses to give up the fight even when things seem impossible. On the other hand, Jean’s care for Jeremy is the unspoken kind; Jeremy is one of the only people who’s shown Jean an ounce of kindness, and the unfamiliarity of it all means he can’t help the urge to fight against Jeremy’s tender heart. Their attraction to each other is undeniable despite all of the pain lingering between them, and I’m so excited to see how they’ll come together in the next book (I can’t believe we’re getting another)! This is one of the most rambly reviews I’ve written in a long time, but forgive me, I just finished TSC a couple minutes ago and the emotions are still fresh. I’ll probably fix this review up tomorrow and add a bit more when my thoughts are more settled. Either way, what a fantastic book, and a more-than-worthy addition to the beloved AFTG series. Before reading I feel like this was announced yesterday, what do you mean it’s already out?? Thankfully my last exam is tomorrow; its time for a summer AFTG reread so i can get into this asap!! so excited :P Just when I thought my years-long Foxhole Court phase was over, I find out about this. -and it's Jean's story. With dual POVs. Meaning Jeremy??? Lord help this fandom, it's over for us. (I'm insanely excited) ...more |
Notes are private!
|
2
|
May 03, 2024
Feb 22, 2025
|
May 06, 2024
not set
|
Nov 18, 2023
|
Unknown Binding
| ||||||||||||||||
0345539842
| 9780345539847
| 0345539842
| 4.52
| 287,166
| Feb 09, 2016
| Feb 09, 2016
|
it was amazing
| “You and I keep looking for light in the darkness, expecting it to appear. But it already has.” I touch his shoulder. “We’re it, boyo. Broken “You and I keep looking for light in the darkness, expecting it to appear. But it already has.” I touch his shoulder. “We’re it, boyo. Broken and cracked and stupid as we are, we’re the light, and we’re spreading.” It’s hard to properly convey the experience of having sat there and cried over a book, feeling your heart tug and warm and break a thousand times over alongside its characters. Pierce Brown has created something truly untouchable in this subgenre of sci fi, something well beyond the bounds of your typical space opera. It feels as if there is a real beating heart beneath this cast of characters, real merit and stakes in every battle they set out to win. Every person with an ounce of page time worms their way into your heart with only the barest of descriptions; that’s real talent, and it’s what makes the characters who do stick around some of the most memorable and loveable I’ve ever read about. “A man thinks he can fly, but he is afraid to jump. A poor friend pushes him from behind.” He looks up at me. “A good friend jumps with.” I feel like I could write ballads about the Red Rising saga and how intensely I adore the conclusion to this beast of an initial trilogy. Like a lot of this fandom, I went into Morning Star believing there was no way it would top Golden Son as my favourite. The flourishing character bonds, nail-biting action sequences and that ending left me extremely confident that book two would reign superior in my heart, regardless of what Darrow had coming this time. …I’ll never understand how I could be so wrong, or how Pierce did it. Things open on such a strikingly grim note, my attention never faltering since that initial scene with Darrow left to the confines of a box and his broken mind. Everything after that became grand in either the literal sense—through massive scale revolts and interplanetary warfare—or in the sense of my heart expanding tenfold, through the many touching conversations Darrow has with the Howlers and his other companions. It’s the little scenes like those that feel the biggest; witnessing the raw emotion between Darrow and his friends is always so beautiful, especially when a simple heart-to-heart eases the individual burdens tearing them apart. ~★~ Characters ~★~ Here’s where things will probably get rambly and/or gushy… These characters put me through the emotional wringer. Almost every scene that made cry was a quiet encounter between Darrow and one of his companions, just their words and how much I adore them enough to leave me a mess. This book felt like so much more than just the wrapping up of Darrow’s journey. It felt deeply in-tune with the people around him, to the point that Morning Star was almost as much Sevro’s or Victra’s or Cassius’ story as it was the Reaper’s. Considering how much I cherish all of them, receiving an ever deeper understanding of who they are, what they love and what makes them tick heightened my enjoyment of the story greatly. I adore this crew so so much. Darrow O’Lykos - The Reaper “Man is no island. We need those who love us. We need those who hate us. We need other to tether us to life, to give us a reason to live, to feel.” As simple as it sounds, my absolute favourite thing about Darrow as our hero is his unfaltering ability to love. It’s so easy for authors to lean heavily into the rage within their protagonists, losing sight of everything but that anger as a driving force in the story. Pierce Brown never allows this to happen, and there is such brilliance in the way that Darrow is shown to be furious at the universe—broken and beat down in almost every sense imaginable—yet still able to harness the supports around him. He is always willing to listen to his family and his crew, showing unfaltering faith in the people who have become not just partners in this revolution, but brothers and sisters he’d die to protect. It’s hard to imagine that this trilogy began with Darrow as a naive teenager who’s never even seen the stars before. Three books later, it’s like I’ve witnessed the long and harrowing ascension of a god narrated in first person. In spite of his herculean feats in battle, Darrow is so human in the moments where it matters most. His willingness to forgive those who have wronged him never fails to warm my heart (like with Tactus, Roque and in a way, Cassius). Our Reaper is larger than life in battle, though he will soften at a single word from his loved ones. That’s what makes Darrow one of my favourite protagonists ever. I can’t wait to see where his journey will go in Iron Gold. “If you’re watching, Eo, it’s time to close your eyes. The Reaper has come. And he’s brought hell with him.” Sevro au Barca - Ares “We are the new age. The new world. And if we’re to show the way, then we better damn well make it a better one.” Sevro… oh Sevro. I’ve loved him ever since his initial days of insanity in the institute, cutting his way out of horse bellies and having his own eye carved out. There’s always been something oddly charming about him and his Howlers, their ragtag bunch of low-rank Golds. Since then, Sevro’s shown himself to be so much more of a complex character, arguably the most nuanced and loveable in the series. In Morning Star, the crown of Ares weighs Sevro down much more than he’ll willingly let anyone see, and it killed me to watch him suffer as it slowly tore apart his friendship with Darrow. God, I don’t even know where to begin with those two. I’ve always loved the unspoken fondness that radiates between them; the brotherhood Sevro and Darrow share is unlike anything I’ve read before. There’s something so precious about two battle-hardened men caring for each other so unabashedly, allowing themselves to show affection just as often as they joke at each other’s expense. The rising tension of the war disrupted the easy dynamic between them, bringing rise to what is possibly my favourite scene in the entire trilogy. When Darrow and Sevro finally snap at each other, brawling on the ship before Sevro breaks down in tears??? Guess who also broke down in tears (me). It really hit, seeing the wordless affection between best friends as Darrow comforted Sevro, and finally seeing Sevro verbalize the heavy burdens of what it means to be Ares, thrust into a position of leadership he feels unfit to bear. I rarely come across such tender male friendships in fiction, which is why Darrow and Sevro have become so precious to me. The wedding scene, when Sevro is getting ready in Darrow’s room and vocalizing his doubts??? The way they reassure each other is so sweet. I’m chomping at the bit for more bff content in Iron Gold. “You’re bloodydamn manic,” I tell Sevro when we’re alone in Virany’s infirmary. Sevro’s holding his neck laughing at himself. I kiss the top of his head. “Bloodydamn insane, you know that?” Cassius au Bellona - The Morning Knight “They do not know the spirit in Cassius, the nobility of a man who would have given his life for his family, but was cursed to live while they all died. They see a monster.” Cassius has been my kryptonite ever since the beginning of Golden Son. Was there a valid reason for loving him when he and his family were actively trying to kill Darrow? No. Did I hold out hope that he could change? Absolutely. I have way too many annotations of me grasping at barely-there foreshadowing, saying things like “potential Cassius redemption arc?” “Cassius and Darrow reunion when??” “Please Pierce let Cassius and Darrow be friends again!!” Guys… I’m telling you… manifestation is key. Sometimes it works. Ever since their friendship breakup in the institute (dead brothers and duels to the death sure do ruin a friendship huh) I’ve been praying for some force to intervene and push the Reaper and the Morning Knight back together again. Crash landing into an arctic wasteland is definitely one way of doing that. Getting one of them shot in the throat and kept prisoner is also: one way of doing that. Forced proximity was clearly not meant for romance, but for the friends-to-enemies-to-friends-again trope. In all seriousness though, Cassius is a devastatingly tragic character, having lost everyone dear to him only to be used like a puppet by the Sovereign. The scenes where he shows kindness to Darrow whilst they were still enemies broke my heart, like the simple decency of covering Darrow with a blanket as the Jackal’s entourage gawked at his tortured form. It was impossible not to get emotional during the scenes when Darrow released Cassius just to talk, making a real effort to rekindle the brotherhood between them. I hate Pierce Brown for playing with my emotions near the ending—talk about stressful plot twists—though I’m at peace knowing all is (temporarily) well with my favourite Golden knight. “He stares at me for a long, odd moment before shaking his head and chuckling at himself or me. ‘I wish it was easier to hate you.’” Victra au Julii “I’m a Julii. Cold runneth through my veins.” Picking a favourite Red Rising character is near impossible, though Victra’s always been a contender for that top spot. She’s a kickass fighter, and unfalteringly loyal when it comes to Darrow and the Howlers. In Golden Son, she seemed like one of the more composed members of Darrow’s crew, the one used to catching everyone else off guard rather than letting her own emotions show. This made her character development in Morning Star really interesting to witness. Instead of being the girl calling the shots, wielding her anger to good use, Pierce showcases a different side to her that—much like Sevro—she tries to bury beneath a facade of emotional toughness. I felt the same dread as the rest of the crew as the need for revenge took over Victra’s mind, also feeling it when her self preservation instincts started leading her to push Sevro away. (The line “she called it off [...] it’s my fault, prolly. Told her… I told her I…loved her before the battle.” felt the same as fifty knives to the heart, I can’t deal with Sevro hurting like that). It becomes glaringly obvious that Victra is as broken and beat-down as Darrow, having been tortured and pushed to her breaking point like most others steering the revolution. Seeing this side to her made me love Victra even more; there was such power in seeing her bounce back from her lowest moments, rediscovering the motivation and love that binds her to her crew. ────── {⋆★⋆} ────── There’s only so much praise I can heap onto Red Rising and Pierce Brown as an author before I run out of words to express that love. And who am I kidding? you’re here, reading a review for book three of this series, you know just how incredible Darrow’s journey in the revolution can be. This is everything I cherish about sci-fi and more, and I’m ecstatic to discover where Iron Gold will take this story—especially since I’ve heard things get much darker than in the original trilogy. This has been one of the greatest reading experiences of my life; I can’t wait for more from Pierce and this cast! “If you betray your Color, the Compact, the Society—which is what this will be—Illium will burn. I will acquaint you with ruin. I will hunt down every person you have ever known ans I will exterminate their seed from the worlds. I will do so with a heavy heart. But I am a man of Mars. A man of war. So know my wrath will be unending.”...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Aug 03, 2023
|
Aug 18, 2023
|
Aug 03, 2023
|
Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
0345539826
| 9780345539823
| 0345539826
| 4.48
| 348,591
| Jan 06, 2015
| Jan 06, 2015
|
it was amazing
| “I will die. You will die. We will all die and the universe will carry on without care. All that we have is that shout into the wind - how we “I will die. You will die. We will all die and the universe will carry on without care. All that we have is that shout into the wind - how we live. How we go. And how we stand before we fall.” Golden Son and all its glory feels like a grand finale of a sequel; it’s unfathomable that five more books follow this masterpiece with how enormous the scope of Darrow’s story has already become. His harrowing journey towards tearing down the Gold society never sees a dull moment—both great success in his conquerings of war and the deep sorrow of losing loved ones shadow his climb to the top. Brown does a fantastic job keeping readers engaged without losing the balance between fueling hope and instilling grief. Darrow’s mistakes and the many betrayals he faces never completely eclipse his giant leaps of success, keeping tensions high while making for a damn compelling sequel with an insane end. “Tell all who will hear, the Reaper sails to Mars. And he calls for an Iron Rain.” Space operas are one of my favourite things to read, and Golden Son broadens the horizons of Darrow’s world enough to finally see the interplanetary war I’ve been anticipating. Pierce Brown orchestrates his battles with incredible finesse. The name ‘Iron Rain’ being used to depict planetary invasions where individual soldiers descend through the atmosphere geared up for war is enough to send shivers down my spine. This is a series I’d kill to see on the big screen, especially with how many grandeur fights unfold like paintings across a canvas, seamlessly and vivid. The political drama is executed masterfully, with every villain having their deep layers and twisted motivations. The scattering of plot twists range from heart breaking to adrenaline inducing, with each one drawing me even further into this already entrancing story. “For seven hundred years, my people have been enslaved without voice, without hope. Now I am their sword. And I do not forgive. I do not forget. So let him lead me onto his shuttle. Let him think he owns me. Let him welcome me into his house, so I might burn it down.” There’s something really astounding about experiencing the rise of a god narrated in first person. I can’t stress enough how much I love Darrow, and how wondrous it is to see such an untouchable, battle hardened man fight to keep hold of his soft heart. I adore the fact that Darrow allows himself to cry in the presence of those he loves, and never ceases to let himself love hard. Darrow's friendship with Sevro in particular is unbearably wholesome; though it took a while for them to reunite in this book, the scene where Sevro reveals he knows *everything* about Darrow nearly ruined me, especially with how Darrow broke down in tears and clung to the man. They make me want to burst with how much their friendship warms my heart! I’m praying Pierce leaves them alive ‘til the end…. There are so many characters that I grew to love even more than I did in Red Rising. Roque, Tactus and Mustang, despite their initially similar alliances, were made more interesting in that they each possessed some deeper motivation that would drive them towards divergent or even misguided paths. I didn’t feel that I fully understood Tactus until the end, when I could really feel for him. Roque, my little poet, has grown an even bigger mystery to me after the final cliffhanger. I want more than anything for him to mend his friendship with Darrow, though I fear if that’s even possible now. Mustang gives me hope in that she sees Darrow in a different light than anyone else; she’ll never hesitate to call his bluff. It’s safe to say all the Howlers have my heart. Some of the new additions to the story also snagged my attention. Victra is awesome. Her unfaltering loyalty and unabashed flirting with Darrow makes it impossible for me not to love her. Ragnar is really great too. Norse mythology inspiring some of his character means I was instantly intrigued by him, though I admit I didn’t expect him to progress past a mildly significant background character. I’m glad to be wrong, since almost every scene he took part in was memorable. I can’t wait to see more him! “Looking at her, I know I was wrong. She is not a distraction. She does not compromise my mission. She is the point if it all. Yet I cannot kiss her. Not now when I must break her heart to break this empire. It would not be fair. I’ve fallen for her, but she’s fallen for my lies.” Darrow and Mustang’s relationship is immensely complicated to me. I like that Mustang is becoming a reason for Darrow to heal and move on from Eo. I like that they can be of some comfort to each other when the world around them feels crushing. Still, I need more scenes between the two of them before I can be fully on board with their romance. Oftentimes there’s so much tension between Darrow and Mustang that their feelings for each other become overshadowed by their individual restraints. I don’t know where they’re heading after the terms they left on at the end of Golden Son, though if they can have a good long heart-to-heart with each other, I think I will be really invested in their future together. “Home isn't where you're from, it's where you find light when all grows dark.” It’s crazy to imagine the next book surpassing this one in any way, though I’ve heard plenty of fans say Morning Star overthrows even this astounding entry in ways of character development and plot developments. I can’t not start the next book immediately after how much praise I’m throwing onto this one. Hopefully it’s as great as I’ve been told! ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Jul 12, 2023
|
Aug 02, 2023
|
Jul 12, 2023
|
ebook
| |||||||||||||||
0575079754
| 9780575079755
| 0575079754
| 4.31
| 317,475
| Jun 01, 2006
| Feb 01, 2007
|
it was amazing
|
A group of self-proclaimed thieves who go by The Gentleman Bastards and have a motto that is essentially “eat the rich”......? Yeah. I was bound to ha
A group of self-proclaimed thieves who go by The Gentleman Bastards and have a motto that is essentially “eat the rich”......? Yeah. I was bound to have fun with this book. Stumbling across the synopsis for The Lies of Locke Lamora was too much for my weak, weak heart. My unread books suffer another day, because I shoved everything aside immediately upon finding out about this magnificent quote: “Some day, Locke Lamora,” he said, “some day, you’re going to fuck up so magnificently, so ambitiously, so overwhelmingly that the sky will light up and the moons will spin and the gods themselves will shit comets with glee. And I just hope I’m still around to see it.” Excellent world-building, and a main cast that is an absolute riot. These two elements alone are enough to warrant high praise from me. Imagine my delight when the plot (with several nail-biting heists) turned out to be amazing too! While the pacing certainly had its slow points, but I can’t deny that Scott Lynch has accomplished something really impressive with this first instalment. The unexpected plot twists were harsh and unforgiving at times—just the way I like fantasy stories to be. It was almost thrilling to realize just how much the author intended to conceal from us as readers through clever time skips interspersed between critical moments in the narrative. I’m delighted to have started off the year with a great read!! Full review to come! :) ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Jan 2023
|
Jan 03, 2023
|
Dec 30, 2022
|
Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
125088263X
| 9781250882639
| 125088263X
| unknown
| 3.52
| 69,943
| Oct 25, 2022
| Oct 25, 2022
|
it was amazing
|
I know I said I was a Nico de Varona enthusiast above all else… though something about Callum stewing in self pity for the entirety of this book was s
I know I said I was a Nico de Varona enthusiast above all else… though something about Callum stewing in self pity for the entirety of this book was so deliciously dark academia, that my love for him nearly surpassed the fondness I have for my favourite magical Cuban physicist. Callum’s initiation scene? It was everything; I couldn’t stop thinking about it for days. At this point, my love for character-driven stories is being blatantly being reinforced. This book was proof enough that I am perfectly okay with next to no plot when the characters themselves are just so damn interesting. “Are you losing your mind?” I was admittedly a little nervous going into The Atlas Paradox, since I knew a lot of people were disappointed with it in comparison to book one. Imagine my surprise when I found myself glued to every page, enjoying every ounce of tension, romance, and slow-moving plot that most readers had an issue with. The individual dynamics between these characters will never not be interesting to me, so the major shifting in alliances that occurred really kept me invested. Callum and Reina were probably the strangest pair to me, until Blake turned their half-hearted alliance into a sort of unspoken comfort between the two loneliest initiates of the archives. I hope their friendship fluorishes even further in the next book, though I wouldn't put it past Blake to crush it completely. Tristan and Nico’s emerging alliance was definitely something I expected. Although they didn’t interact much in The Atlas Six, Tristan and Nico always felt really compatible to me. It was especially nice to see them united in their desire to find Libby and return her to the archives, being the only two initiates making a genuine effort to save her. Then again, we also have my favourite non-initiate (Gideon) who also contributed to finding Libby. I was starved for more crumbs of Gideon content after book one, so finally receiving his POVs in The Atlas Paradox was bliss. Blake’s exploration of his dreamwalking was super fascinating... I think my heart melted every time he met Nico in his dreams (their friendship (view spoiler)[(boy)friendship (hide spoiler)] is everything). (view spoiler)[Gideon finally kissing Nico at the end sent me into orbit. Every time Nico calls Gideon “Sandman” or Gideon calls Nico “Nicky/Nicolas” I lose it…their bond is the purest thing in the world. (hide spoiler)] “They had shared something that couldn't be undone-something that had followed them around, joining them even in their absences form each other. History did that to people. Proximity. Love in some cases, hatred in others. The specific kind of intimacy that meant that every enemy was once a friend.” I’m itching to see how the individual romances will unfold in The Atlas Complex. It baffles me that Blake has created a cast so intertwined with each other that almost every ship seems plausible. While I have my preferences, the fact that I’m okay with almost every pairing speaks volumes as to the brilliance of these character dynamics. Now that we're at the end of book two, there seems to be a clear trajectory for certain characters, though Tristan remains the most up-in-the-air to me. While Libby is certainly the most plausible endgame for him after all that occurred so far, I can’t shake the feeling that he’s still a little in love with Parisa and Callum. Reina seems asexual/aromantic to me; I definitely picture her and Callum remaining friends in their potential romantic solitude. Then there’s Parisa with Dalton, which seems pretty obvious, no? And Nico…… I’m so so happy for him. It only feels right to close another review with more rambling about Nico (consistency, and whatnot). Him and his puppy-dog personality will always have a special place in my heart; it was so sweet that he wanted to say proper goodbyes to everyone at the archives before they departed, and was genuinely disappointed when all of the others insisted upon apathy. I'll never get over the special bond he shares with Gideon. Something about them speaking three languages to one another like their secret pact, and thinking nothing but the best about each other is so precious. Nico calling Gideon “the best person [he] knows”, and Gideon thinking longingly of Nico when he thought he was dying threatened to break my heart in the best way possible. These two have latched onto my heart oh so fiercely. Well.... I guess I'll see you all in a year when The Atlas Paradox releases, for what will certainly be another incoherent review about these six idiots (+ Gideon) and my endless love for them. ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Feb 03, 2023
|
Feb 18, 2023
|
Oct 26, 2022
|
Hardcover
| ||||||||||||||
1974720942
| 9781974720941
| 1974720942
| 4.32
| 5,122
| Jun 04, 2020
| Jun 15, 2021
|
it was amazing
|
Blue Flag is such a comforting series for me, capturing the high school experience exceptionally well. I come back to this last volume a lot (since it
Blue Flag is such a comforting series for me, capturing the high school experience exceptionally well. I come back to this last volume a lot (since it's definitely my favourite) and sob every time Taichi opens Touma's lucky charm. Such a great manga.
...more
|
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Jun 15, 2021
|
Jun 15, 2021
|
Aug 19, 2022
|
Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
142150877X
| 9781421508771
| 142150877X
| 4.71
| 1,626
| Sep 26, 1994
| Apr 10, 2007
|
it was amazing
|
I’m never gonna recover from this.
|
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Aug 16, 2022
|
Aug 16, 2022
|
Aug 16, 2022
|
Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
035651059X
| 9780356510590
| 035651059X
| 4.63
| 34,733
| Nov 30, 2021
| Nov 30, 2021
|
it was amazing
|
I try not to swear in my reviews, but after finishing such a soul-consuming finale, I feel like there’s no other way to put it: this book was fucking
I try not to swear in my reviews, but after finishing such a soul-consuming finale, I feel like there’s no other way to put it: this book was fucking incredible. “We don’t handle this world. We make it handle us.” The Green Bone Saga has always felt so grand to me—larger than life despite following characters and conflict partially grounded in reality. Sense-enhancing jade stones are the extent of the magic in this trilogy and the urban-jungle of Janloon, yet Fonda Lee expands the horizons of conflict far beyond Kekon Island in Jade Legacy, pushing the foreign threat of jade exploitation into the spotlight alongside the already harrowing clan war. Hilo, Shae, Anden and the Kauls have been consistently incredible leading characters, morally-grey but badass and so hard not to love in spite of their faults. “Good men are remembered with love by their friends,” declared the Spear of Kekon. “Great warriors are remembered with awe by their enemies.” I thought it was impossible for Fonda Lee to craft a truly satisfying conclusion to such a complex series. Colour me shocked, because that’s exactly what she did. Every character had a fitting end to their respective arc, to the point where any predictability wasn’t even a negative thing to me. Certain characters needed to die (yes I sobbed) and others had to grow into leaders and fighters, stepping up to fill the absences of those lost. The creative choice to have the Green bone Saga span the course of an entire generation is brilliant; following the same cast as they age into adulthood (nearly thirty years of time) only bolstered my attachment to the Kauls and their allies by unreasonable amounts. As per usual, Lee’s carefully planned plot in Jade Legacy had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. I had “Paper Planes” by M.I.A on repeat throughout reading this trilogy, which was perfect background noise for the murderous rampages, political skirmishes and general badassery of the Kaul family as No Peak plowed through their brutal war against the Mountain. Like in Jade War, several scenes had me stopping and closing the book to take a breather, thinking ‘there is no fucking way that just happened…’. AKA the first scene that shattered my soul: (view spoiler)[Poor Ru’s death. He was arguably the sweetest Kaul, and did not deserve that!!! I didn’t realize how much I loved him until he was cut down out of nowhere, which made everything hurt so bad. (hide spoiler)]. Oh, and another thing I was spoiled for but was in no way prepared to actually read: (view spoiler)[Hilo’s death. God, he was a bitch a lot of the time, but he grew into a great father and remained a complete badass… losing him so close to the end broke me. Especially when he asked Shae on his deathbed, “what would you like me to say to Lan?” or thought about how excited he was to see Ru in the afterlife ….my eyes were leaking...a lot… (hide spoiler)]The fight scenes are always immaculate, cutting and quick without being rushed. I’m left breathless after every minor conflict, which is an amazing feat I’m sure Fonda Lee is so proud of (being a blackbelt and all). This was in my eyes, the perfect conclusion to a seriously fantastic series. One I hope that more people will begin to praise and recognize. “You'd think it would be easier to face death as you get older, but it doesn't work that way. You get more attached to life, to people you love and things that are worth living for.”...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Aug 11, 2022
|
Aug 27, 2022
|
Aug 11, 2022
|
Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
0316440922
| 9780316440929
| 0316440922
| 4.40
| 43,990
| Jul 23, 2019
| Jul 23, 2019
|
it was amazing
|
The Green Bone Saga has me in a violent chokehold, and this sequel may as well be the nail in the coffin…....more specifically: Kaul Hilo continues to
The Green Bone Saga has me in a violent chokehold, and this sequel may as well be the nail in the coffin…....more specifically: Kaul Hilo continues to be a personal problem for me, because this book effectively blurred the lines between loving and hating him and now I’m just floating in a weird space of morally grey sludge and who am I kidding he is definitely still my favourite. Damn you, Fonda Lee. “I didn't think you believed in the gods,” she said when he straightened. For those of you who have no idea what I’m rambling about, may I humbly present to you: an Asian-inspired, Godfather esque urban fantasy, centered around a cutthroat family clan fighting for control of their island’s magical sense-enhancing jade. Premise is on point, characters are all a little bit evil, and the plot is absolutely wild. What more could you want? Nothing, silly, because this series is everything. Jade City was insanely good. Naturally, I had crazy high hopes that Jade War would be a sequel to end all sequels, eclipsing even its amazing predecessor. Call me psychic, because Fonda Lee absolutely did that. I’ve never had to take so many damn ‘breathers’ while reading a book before this one crashed into my life. The Kaul family and their ruinous rivalry with the Mountain clan is going to ruin my life. Kekon Island is such a vibrant home-base for this series. Its bustling streets filled with gangsters, thieves, shopkeeps and clan warriors make the pages come alive, to the point that I can practically feel the hum of jade running through the city’s veins. Jade War took the island’s foundation and expanded it tenfold, introducing us intimately to the cultures of the surrounding regions like Espenia, and raising tensions by tying these foreign places irreversibly to the fate of the clan. I loved learning the nuances and politics of neighbouring regions offshore from the Kaul family’s homeland—it made everything feel so much bigger in this sequel. The masterful wordbuilding and heady atmosphere alone are enough to warrant my admiration. The number of crazy fights, assasination plots, and generally anxiety-inducing plot twists in Jade War made this book utterly unputdownable for me. I mean, I could rattle off at least four or five scenes where I had to pause and contemplate how the hell what I was reading actually just happened. Fonda Lee is hardcore alright; I owe my fractured little heart to her after all the pain I’ve been through with this series. Her action scenes remain top-tier (I’d expect no less from a real-life black belt), never feeling rushed or dragging. They cut deep, and leave you reeling from the impact without fail. Just amazing. “The possibility of death was like the weather—you could make attempts to predict it, but you would likely be wrong, and no one would change their most important plans due to threat of rain.” Ever since Fonda Lee showed us a glimpse of Anden’s potential in Jade City, I was thoroughly enamoured with his character, hoping he would play a more integral role in the rest of the series. Turns out I would fret no longer, because the growth Anden went through in Jade War was just incredible. Having Anden essentially exiled to Espenia, and using his experiences as a foreigner to broaden the world-building beyond Kekon Island was so clever. Beyond that, I adored seeing him come into his own in a place distant from the pressing influence of jade and the clan. Anden’s relationship with Cory tugged on my heartstrings; bittersweet throughout, being many of Anden’s firsts, I can’t even say I’m all that mad about how things resulted between them (next conquest: Lott Jin??). Anden is such a complex person, and his internal struggle with the choice not to wear jade never fails to get me. In both Jade City and Jade War, he’s been the focus of my personal favourite or ‘standout’ scenes, so he’s climbing the ranks to possibly become my favourite character. I could write a whole novel about Hilo, but I’ll try to keep it short for my sanity’s sake. He threw me for a thousand loops in this installment, with one decision in particular that had me abruptly stop reading, dread washing through my body, staring into space thinking there is no way that just happened. Sometimes, I wanted to scream at him. Sometimes, I was cheering for him. Other times, I wanted to envelop him in a tender hug. It was nervous about Hilo taking his role as Pillar of the clan head-on, being forced to mature from a renowned street-fighting brute into a more resolved leader. Admittedly, I didn’t think him capable of holding down such a role, though his growth was profound over the four-to-five years that passed in this book. I am so invested in his character, and am once again praying that Fonda Lee spares him in the series finale… Shae …lord, where do I begin. She—like Hilo—drove me a little bit insane this book. I was so looking forward to more badassery from her, especially after she went rampaging through the streets with Hilo in Jade City following a certain *hem* tragedy. I couldn’t tell if I felt sorry for her, or sorry for the people around her (who often had to take the fall for what were ultimately her tough choices). Her journey was emotional as all hell, and while I wanted to shake some sense into her at times, I was thoroughly glues to the pages anytime her chapters appeared. I adored the sisterly bond she and Wen shared, with Wen always having the best advice and reassurances around. Also, that duel between Shae and Ayt? So good!!! Yeah, this review is way too long, but I can’t help myself when it comes to this series. Anyways, if I haven’t yelled it enough, go read these books! ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Jul 21, 2022
|
Jul 27, 2022
|
Jul 21, 2022
|
Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
0316440884
| 9780316440882
| 0316440884
| 4.08
| 87,038
| Nov 07, 2017
| Jun 26, 2018
|
it was amazing
| “The clan is my blood, and the Pillar is its master. On my honor, my life, and my jade.” Jade City made me feel like I was skirting the edg “The clan is my blood, and the Pillar is its master. On my honor, my life, and my jade.” Jade City made me feel like I was skirting the edge of a cliff: all throughout, I watched little pebbles tip down the sides, knowing that the slow buildup of debris would eventually spark unimaginable disaster. There were fleeting moments where I was certain I could anticipate the drop ahead, only to be hit with something totally unexpected every time. The gut-wrenching action sequences, genius world-building and tense family ties had me reeling, as all of these elements worked together to create a story that was undoubtedly so much more than your run-of-the-mill urban fantasy. In no time at all, I was glued to the pages, inevitably intrigued by the cutting rivalry between the two powerhouse clans of Kekon island. “People are like horses, Andy. [...] Any old horse will run when it's whipped, but only fast enough to avoid the whipping,” Hilo said. “Racehorses, though, they run because they look at the horse on their left, they look at the one on their right, and they think, No way am I second to these fuckers.” ~★~ What is this book about? ~★~ The Kauls are the lifeblood of the No Peak clan, the ruling family who—alongside the Mountain clan—control Kekon island’s most precious resource: magical, sense enhancing jade. Jade City follows the young Kaul siblings as they inherit leading roles in the No Peak clan from their retiring ancestors, stepping into positions of power just as the threat of an all-out clan war becomes serious. Where Green Bone (jade sensitive) warriors once protected Kekon island from foreign invasion, the capital city of Janloon is now a metropolis entirely reliant on their control of jade harvest and manufacturing. The clans descended from Green Bones have always fought to maintain their hold on jade, expected to support the districts under their control with their profit, though rising tensions between No Peak and the Mountain are now higher than ever, which can only bring destruction for both clans prowling the war-path. ~★~ Characters ~★~ The most rapturous thing about Jade City was its characters, with every one of them coming off as so unflinchingly real. It was fascinating to read from all three Kaul siblings as they each faced decisions that pushed the limits of their morality, and constantly juggled the careful balance between maintaining honour and triggering an all-out clan war. No singular character could be singled out as truly “good” which made every individual camaraderie and rivalry impossible not to get lost in. ‘Hilo’ - Kaul Hiloshudon “The Horn placed his hands on her shoulders, and pulled her close, and laid his cheek against hers. “Heavens help me, Shae,” he whispered into her ear. “I’m going to kill them all.” I thought it would be fitting to start with the character that drove me absolutely insane (in the best way…. I love him way too much). As the Horn—leader of combat—in the No Peak clan, Hilo could have easily fallen into the poorly written ‘brute’ character, hardly sensible in his violence. This being said, I was naturally pleased when he turned out to be laughably far from the stereotype. Hilo loves with such intensity, whether it be his friends, family or partner, which is fitting considering the brutal intensity he fights with when he or his clan is wronged. As the hotheaded counterpart to his older brother, Hilo is both praised and chastised for his violent tendencies, depending on what needs befit the clan at a specific moment. These traits were so addicting, because even as I grew to love Hilo with my whole heart, he was an ultimately unpredictable character, keeping me in the depths of suspense (+ pain and suffering) any time I read from his POV. Hilo kind of embodies the phrase live fast die young, and with the first signs of a corruption arc on his part, I’m praying Fonda Lee spares him…. for my sanity’s sake. ‘Lan’ - Kaul Lanshinwan “Was it possible, Lan wondered, to be both a strong leader and a compassionate person, or were those two things opposing forces, pushing each other away?” As the oldest of the Kaul siblings, Lan was named Pillar—or, leader—of the No Peak clan. I thought this to be pretty ironic, because Lan also acted as a pillar in the abstract sense. While Hilo, Shae and Anden oftentimes found themselves unable to properly manage their emotions, Lan could always be depended on as the rock holding their family together. There was something masterful about the way Lan’s perspective was written; as the story progressed, I felt the growing pressure that he faced bear onto me like a physical weight on my shoulders. A subtle sense of dread wound tight in my stomach as Lan began to crumble under the impossibility of holding the No Peak clan together. There is something quiet and heartbreakingly beautiful about Lan’s character that is testament to Fonda Lee’s incredible writing; while Lan was hailed the levelheaded peacekeeper of No Peak, it was beyond painful to witness his position ultimately strangle him. I hardly expected his character arc to steer in the direction it did, but it hit me hard. Such a heart-wrenching character, masterfully executed nonetheless. ‘Shae’ - Kaul Shaelinson “Screw you, Hilo,” she snapped. “I can kill my ex-boyfriends myself.” It took a while for Shae to grow on me, but once she did, I was invested. As the younger sister to Hilo and Lan, Shae decided to forge her own path outside of the No Peak clan, wanting to escape the life of crime and violence she and her brothers were raised to inherit. Her foreign education and boyfriend, alongside her completely severed ties with No Peak, led Shae to become the reputational ‘disgrace’ of the Kaul family. Naturally, things are awkward when she makes her grand return back to Kekon island. My original distaste for Shae was through no fault of Lee’s writing, and mainly due to personal preference on my part. I was so entranced by Hilo and Lan’s duties within the clan, especially because of all the strategising and deception they endured. More than anything, I wanted to see Shae return to No Peak and take up a position in the clan; this is why I came to love her fiercely after she (view spoiler)[went badass mode after Lan’s death, adorning all of her jade to go kill some Mountain associates in a whirlwind of action sequences (hide spoiler)]. Shae struck a perfect balance between Hilo and Lan’s demeanor, possessing equally poised and impassioned characteristics. By the second half, I was cheering her every move on, and with Hilo walking a fine line towards corruption, I’m incredibly interested to see if her arc will follow suit. ‘Anden’ - Emery Anden “Sometimes, Andy, the people you think you can count on, they let you down in a bad way, and that's hard to take. But for the most part, you give a man something to live up to, you tell him he can be more than he is now, more than other people think he'll ever be, and he'll try his godsdamned best to make it true.” Anden was a wildcard: as the adopted cousin to the Kaul family, I was reluctantly pulled in by his quiet demeanor and tragic backstory. In the beginning, I found Anden a little too reserved for my liking. Similarly to Shae, I saw potential in Anden’s character that I feared would not be tapped into. Thankfully, I was soon proven wrong. It was so interesting to get a glimpse into the jade academy through Anden’s chapters, since they added a lot of incite into the magic system and the abilities that can be harnessed through jade. Knowing that Anden would graduate as a Green Bone warrior into the brunt of a clan war peaked my interest considerably; his race made him highly sensitive to jade, meaning both increased power potential and increased withdrawal… his presence as a fighter would be crucial to No Peak. Jade City’s climax was phenomenal, with my favourite chapter being largely attributed to Anden. It was exhilarating to see him fight alongside Hilo, finally letting go of himself in a striking display of power. Anden’s personality really grew on me as well; his internal struggles were articulated perfectly, and I found his interactions with more large and boisterous personalities really funny. His potential for the rest of this series excites me to no end. ~★~ Plot / Writing ~★~ It would be a crime not to praise Fonda Lee’s talent for writing fight scenes. Jade City arguably featured some of the best action sequences I’ve ever read, which would make sense, considering Lee is a black belt with far more combat knowledge that the average fantasy author… I was left awestruck after every brutal tangle between jade fighters and ruthless assassins, especially as tensions rose between clans, meaning higher stakes. It’s impossible not to marvel at the delicate balance Lee struck between creating battles quick enough to leave you breathless, though simultaneously long enough to be immersive without over-description. Soon enough, readers discover that Fonda Lee is in no way afraid to kill her darlings (yes, I am in PAIN) which ensured that I was holding my breath through everything, from minor street skirmishes to explosive confrontations. The entire plot of Jade City is brilliant. Fonda Lee mentioned in an interview that although we are following the Kaul family and the No Peak clan—rooting for them, no less—she wanted to write a story where if you zoomed out, and were thrown into the perspective of the other side (the Mountain clan) the Kauls would look like the bad guys. This moral-greyness slathered across every character makes for an unbelievably gripping story. As with a crime centered plot, it was impossible to know who to trust. The immense pressure of leading a massive clan meant that even the most beloved characters would succumb to deception and betrayal for the sake of survival. I was endlessly thrilled (and also very distressed) by the plot, finding it brilliant how threads leading to war would pile up in different perspectives. No single character had established the full picture that would clue them in to the severity of the oncoming war, and as the reader who very much does have all the pieces, it is impossible to stop reading. I could write fifty pages about this story, (I think this is my longest review ever?) but I feel like I’ve said far, far more than is necessary. I went into this book hoping for a relatively exciting adult fantasy, and ended up with my expectations shattered. This might be bold, but I think Jade City was quite possibly the best adult fantasy I have ever read. Apparently, Jade War is going to absolutely ruin me as well (if Fonda Lee touches Hilo its over for me), so, time for that?? I am beyond excited and kind of very scared. Anyways guys…. READ THIS BOOK!!! ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Jun 24, 2022
|
Jun 28, 2022
|
Jun 24, 2022
|
Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
0735269939
| 9780735269934
| 0735269939
| 4.05
| 97,559
| Sep 21, 2021
| Sep 21, 2021
|
it was amazing
|
A kick-ass feminst take on the only female emperor of China? Crazy spirit energy and piloted robots? Assasination and revenge and polyamory? Now hold
A kick-ass feminst take on the only female emperor of China? Crazy spirit energy and piloted robots? Assasination and revenge and polyamory? Now hold on a minute…. “He should be the Iron King, and I should be the Iron Queen. Yet Iron Demon and iron Widow is all they’ll let us be.” ~★~ What is this (AMAZING!!) book about? ~★~ The Kingdom of Huaxia idolizes their army of Chrysalis pilots above all else. The fated boys with the largest spirit pressures are tasked with steering massive metal robots in the war against creatures colonizing the planet, given a female concubine to draw energy from in battle. Of course, there is one problem: the girls almost always die following a single fight, completely drained by their pilot. Zetian is angry at the world, partially because the piloting system says girls can't be pilots, mainly because her family signed her big sister's death warrant by selling her into said piloting system. Zetian's fury prompts her to enlist as a concubine intending one thing: assassinate the pilot who killed big sis. Her revenge is broadcast nation-wide when–shockingly–she emerges from a Chrysalis not dead, but with a prince-class pilot lifeless at her feet. Nicknamed the Iron Widow, Zetian is surprised to find that instead of being sent to her execution, she is promptly paired with the deadliest pilot in the world–a 19 year old killer who murdered his own family, forced to defend the kingdom in chains. ────── {⋆★⋆} ────── Disclaimer: If a book includes a polyamrous relationship between a battle-hardened girl seeking revenge, a teenage murderer with a tragic past, and the sweetest boy on planet earth, I’m going to be hanging on for dear life, irreversibly bound to every written word. But really, everything about Iron Widow was insanely good. The unapologetic feminism, cutting action sequences and jarring heart in this story all mixed together to create a pulsing lifeblood oh so strong. I was so transfixed by Xiran Jay Zhao’s alternate take on Chinese history, especially their pointed commentary and general badassery. “It’s hilarious. Men want us so badly for our bodies, yet hate us so much for our minds.” I felt a continuous rush of adrenaline throughout reading Iron Widow; its unfaltering pace and relentless twists paired with character bonds that were to die for(!!) all culminated into what is now undoubtedly a favourite book of mine. The worst thing ever was reading this for a book club, solely because forcing myself to stop in places that made me want to bulldoze ahead was near impossible. The writing was so addictive, both flowery and sharp when it needed to be. So many heartfelt, emotionally charged scenes took my breath away, especially scenes between Zetian, Shimin and Yizhi. The careful handling of addiction and trauma between them (particularly in regards to Shimin) was so gorgeously done. I absolutely loved having the deeper facets of his character gradually revealed to us. “How do you take the fight out of half the population and render them willing slaves? You tell them they’re meant to do nothing but serve from the minute they’re born. You tell them they’re weak. You tell them they’re prey. You tell them over and over, until it’s the only truth they’re capable of living. My heart hurts from those last few chapters. I knew my fierce bisexual trio was going to end me in some way, but Xiran Jay Zhao did not. hold. back. Shimin, I love you… Yizhi, thank you (view spoiler)[for killing your asshole of a father <3 (hide spoiler)].... and Zetian… please girlboss your way out of this mess. Sincerely, A partially distressed girl somewhat calmed, simultaneously panicked by the thought of a sequel. ...more |
Notes are private!
|
2
|
Dec 26, 2024
Jan 11, 2022
|
Dec 27, 2024
Feb 03, 2022
|
Jan 11, 2022
|
Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
1250175550
| 9781250175557
| 1250175550
| 4.28
| 3,979
| Aug 25, 2020
| Apr 06, 2021
|
it was amazing
|
This instalment being titled A Memory of Souls is surely a ploy by Jenn Lyons to expose my emotional state after that appalling ending. My soul has mo
This instalment being titled A Memory of Souls is surely a ploy by Jenn Lyons to expose my emotional state after that appalling ending. My soul has most definitely departed! I am in pain and fumbling for the next book as we speak. Easily the best addition to the Chorus of Dragons series thus far, The Memory of Souls takes everything I was already so pleased with, and amps it up tenfold. These amazing characters will always be the highlight for me; Khirin–my beloved harp playing thief–has grown up harrowingly fast, Teraeth has strengthened his hold on my heart with his lovesick POVs (which, thank god for his POVs), and Janel has shown herself to be far more than a badass fighter with a complicated past. Also, I didn’t expect to love Thurvishar so fiercely!! Best fourth wheel ever, and his dry humour–whether through footnotes or actual lines–was everything! “Thurvishar concentrated as he cast the spell. The romance absolutely ruined my life (in the best way possible). My best friend received several frantic texts and photos about Kihrin, Teraeth and Janel’s complicated polyamory finally beginning to blossom. Pretty much any scene of the three interacting with any of each other had me spinning, its embarrassing. (lord knows what I’ll look like when their romance escalates next book) (If Jenn Lyons decides to FIX THAT ENDING, that is!!) (pretty please). “It felt like nighttime. It felt like those early-morning hours when inhibitions hide and the surreal gossamer of if-onlys and possibility--so clumsy and fragile by daylight--transform into action. We do things at night we would never dream of doing when the sun is watching.” It’s been several months since I read The Name of All Things, so jumping back into what is easily the most complex fantasy series I’ve ever read was bound to come with some confusion. Still, I found that I was quickly able to pick up on references and backstory to the point where I was (surprisingly) back on track with the crazy family trees, massive world-building and numerous characters a product of reincarnation or body-soul swapping. I was undoubtedly a bit confused at points, but the brain breaking plot twist, exhilarating action sequences and fantastically developed characters were enough to keep me enthused throughout. A new favourite book of mine for sure!! ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Jan 06, 2022
|
Jan 20, 2022
|
Jan 06, 2022
|
Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
1509879498
| 9781509879496
| 1509879498
| 3.83
| 14,888
| Feb 05, 2019
| Feb 07, 2019
|
it was amazing
| “I don’t want to be your hero. Those stories never end well.” The Ruin of Kings was mind blowing in every sense. Khirin is easily one of my “I don’t want to be your hero. Those stories never end well.” The Ruin of Kings was mind blowing in every sense. Khirin is easily one of my new favourite protagonists; the fact that he faced the wrath of dragons, demons, and deranged royals (among other creatures) while constantly being called out for his low IQ was hilarious. Complete with the vastly intriguing supporting cast and endlessly amusing footnotes, I had a wonderful time reading! ~★~ What is this book about? ~★~ The Ruin of Kings is told quite strangely (which I adored). When we first meet our protagonist Khirin, we find him jailed by a monster, one that demands he recite the story of what led up to his current imprisonment. From there, we are thrust into alternating perspectives following two different timelines in Khirin’s past. One told by his jailor, Talon, the other recited by Khirin himself... As the adopted son of a blind musician, young Khirin’s life was made up of harp playing and the occasional thievery. This all comes crashing down when, during a robbery, he spies a prince summoning a demon—and gets caught. As the only witness to what happened that night, Khirin becomes a target of great danger. So, when the prince he caught performing a dark-magic ritual publicly claims Khirin as his long-lost son, Khirin’s whole world becomes a nightmare. ────── {⋆★⋆} ────── I have never read anything like this book. The Ruin of Kings takes intricacy to new heights, combining elements of magic that I never imagined could meld together so well. The first book already saw the whimsy of dragons, krakens, immortal gods, mimics, emperors and more! I know, “How could that many things possibly work in harmony with one another?” Believe me, I’m in awe too. Jenn Lyons does a damn great job weaving her magic into this world while leaving tons of room for expansion in later books. “Do you think fortune will favor you because your cause is just and your heart is full of vengeance? As you said yourself, he is a monster. One does not slay a monster with good intentions.” The world-building was spectacular! Lyons crafts a realm with such rich history, that even the places our protagonist didn’t visit felt recognizably lived in. I could picture every setting in vivid detail, and revelled in much of the mental scenery. Some of my favourite scenes took place of Thaena’s island, partially due to how much I enjoyed the atmosphere. The characters. Oh my. Khirin was such an unpredictable, hotheaded, stupid teenager. Alas, how could I not love him?. The humour within this novel was perfectly to my taste; Khirin’s impulsive snarkiness made me laugh out loud during one or two scenes, which is a rare feat for any book to accomplish. Taraeth and Tyentso are probably my next favourites, providing entertaining banter with Khirin and containing great character depth themselves. (I’m sad that Taraeth wasn’t too prominent in this first book; here’s to hoping he’ll show up more in the rest of the series!) My one (pretty miniscule) complaint revolves around the soul-switching, nobody is who you think they are thing. The royal family tree was hard enough to follow on its own, so the additional ability allowing someone's soul to posses the body of their killer made characters' true identities and relationships even harder to keep track of. All in all, The Ruin of Kings is an incredibly immersive and enjoyable high fantasy. If you tend to like very complex storylines and magic systems, this one is definitely for you. Exhilarating battle sequences and plot twists will have you on the edge of your seat for sure! However, If you enjoy more straightforward fantasies, I’d give this one a pass. Did not expect to love this book so much, but it was amazing! ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Jul 02, 2021
|
Jul 14, 2021
|
Jul 02, 2021
|
Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
1338188410
| 9781338188417
| B09QC3SQRS
| 4.28
| 13,241
| Oct 18, 2022
| Oct 18, 2022
|
it was amazing
|
The Raven Cycle universe has always meant the world to me. It’s been my rock since I was around twelve years old, so finally arriving at this conclusi
The Raven Cycle universe has always meant the world to me. It’s been my rock since I was around twelve years old, so finally arriving at this conclusion feels pretty surreal (if a little bittersweet, too). I’m going to miss these characters so much, though it feels amazing having witnessed their journey come to a close more perfect than I could’ve ever imagined. It has always been impossible for me to shut up about Ronan. He’s my favourite fictional character ever, and I’ve rambled on about him for a whopping seven reviews now. Why does he mean so much to me? I could hardly tell you. Why does one like their favourite colour, or their favourite song so much? You could list off a few things, but no one else could truly understand the feeling you’ve attached to it. Ronan has put me through the ringer in this trilogy; he balances the beauty and danger of magic in his hands, harnessing the essence of dreams in sleep, while feeling suffocated by the confines of reality during his every waking moment. More than anything, I hoped this ending would grant Ronan one thing: the desire to live in wakefullness, finding love in the future awaiting him with Adam and his his brothers. My heart aches just thinking about Ronan, but I’m so happy with the way Maggie wrapped up his character-arc. The Adam/Chainsaw scene? The rooftop scene? I may as well have disintegrated into a puddle. Although Ronan will always be the king of my heart, Greywaren saw Declan Lynch as the new source of all my love, pain and excessive suffering. When I think of him, I think of sorrow. Witnessing a man deprived of his childhood, having no choice but to parent his orphaned brothers, finally tapping into his feelings instead of repressing them? I cried, a lot. It was a welcome surprise to finally gain perspective into Declan’s childhood at the barns, and to follow the revelations of falsehood that coloured his relationship with Niall, Môr, Matthew and Ronan for so many years. From the beginning of The Dreamer Trilogy, it became evident that Declan was growing overwhelmed with keeping the love in him locked away. His constant internal battle between protecting his brothers and allowing himself the freedoms he so badly desired made it all the more rewarding when his facade finally came crashing down, with Maggie crafting the perfect end to his brilliant character. His happiness makes me so happy. I finished this book weeping, of all things. Although the Lynch brothers—and Adam (chapter 12!!)—had me reduced to tears an embarrassing number of times in this conclusion, the last paragraph of Greywaren really did me in. The final few lines were so softly beautiful, featuring one particular moment I’ve imaged playing out, yet didn’t dare to hope for in canon. Naturally, Maggie deciding to write such a perfect scene meant I read and reread said final passage over and over, my heart threatening to burst each time. I stayed up till’ midmorning to finish this book, but with an end like that, I couldn’t be bothered to regret a thing. I could write forever about Matthew, Adam, Jordan, Henessy, Bryde, Farooq and this entire cast for all their incredible complexities. I won’t keep you for too much longer, though. This trilogy—and TRC as a whole—is a masterpiece in my mind, though I’m far past the ‘biased’ threshold. Still, this series is exceptionally written, and I’ll persist that readers who enjoy flowery prose, a touch of magic, and heartwarming found family need to try reading The Raven Boys, and eventually this series. For now, though, it’s goodbye to my favourite fictional universe! I’m sure I’ll be back for reread, after reread, content to know that all will end well for Ronan and his beloveds. Before reading: Mister Impossible was a RIDE, and like Ronan, I am not okay. That being said, manifesting the following: ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Oct 18, 2022
|
Oct 24, 2022
|
Jun 22, 2021
|
Kindle Edition
| |||||||||||||||
0062888285
| 9780062888280
| 0062888285
| 4.32
| 27,284
| Jun 01, 2021
| Jun 01, 2021
|
it was amazing
|
The Darkness Outside Us was the most breathtaking sci-fi I’ve read all year. An unexpectedly introspective tale balancing humour and unimaginable grie
The Darkness Outside Us was the most breathtaking sci-fi I’ve read all year. An unexpectedly introspective tale balancing humour and unimaginable grief—pain with great payoff. The protagonists—Ambrose and Kodiak—stole my heart from the get-go with their affable banter; this was an experience beyond words (and one I’d kill to see adapted into a movie!) ~★~ What is this book about? ~★~ Minerva Cusk was the first human sent out to colonize Saturn’s moon, Titan. When she sends out a distress signal, her brother Ambrose is the astronaut chosen to rescue her. Soon after, Ambrose wakes from a coma on a sentient ship, with no memory of the launch. He thought he was alone on this mission, but AI tells him there is another person onboard—a man by the name of Kodiak, who is strangely opposed to unlocking his half of the ship for company. It soon becomes clear that if either astronaut hopes to survive, they must put their differences aside and work together to uncover the dark secrets behind their mission. ────── {⋆★⋆} ────── Two men from warring countries isolated together in space... that sounded like an incredible premise—one I was beyond eager to read about. Ambrose was the perfect protagonist to narrate this book, with a wonderful sense of humour that cushioned the severity the plot. I loved experiencing his massive heart slowly chipping away at Kodiak’s closed-off demeanor. Their romance sprinkled throughout the story made my heart melt; Ambrose and Kodiak’s circumstances of true loneliness only served to amplify how much they cared for each other. I wanted to give them both a big hug. The Darkness Outside Us is comprised of numerous awe-inducing moments. Testament to the great writing, I could picture almost everything in vivid detail; several action sequences took my breath away due to the characters’ raw emotions, as well as the shocking plot twists. I cried on several occasions because of how much Ambrose and Kodiak went through; their journey will have readers pondering important questions drawn back to our reality. The impact this story had on me is immeasurable! Science fiction has always been my favourite genre (space operas in particular). That being said, there was something about the way Eliot Schrefer established the sense of complete isolation in space that I kept marvelling at. It was so easy to resonate with Ambrose’s feelings of loneliness, fear, and awe while he gazed at the vast nothingness beyond his spacecraft’s windows. There were times I paused in astonishment as I imagined being with the characters, in the centre of endless stars and galaxies. This is (somehow?) marketed as a YA romance. In my opinion, it is not YA, nor is it centrally a romance. I know The Darkness Outside Us would be tremendously well-received in the adult sci-fi community, so I pray it finds the right readers! This is a fairly new book, and one I hope becomes popular. If the synopsis sounds even remotely interesting to you, I implore you to give this a chance; my review doesn’t do it justice, but I’m almost certain you’ll enjoy it! ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Jun 11, 2021
|
Jun 12, 2021
|
Jun 11, 2021
|
Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
1250313228
| 9781250313225
| 1250313228
| 4.29
| 79,118
| Aug 04, 2020
| Aug 04, 2020
|
it was amazing
| “You hating me always meant more than anyone else in this hot and stupid universe loving me. At least I’d had your full attention.” Harrow “You hating me always meant more than anyone else in this hot and stupid universe loving me. At least I’d had your full attention.” Harrow the Ninth may be a jarring sequel for fans of its predecessor, Gideon the Ninth. Instead of our witty and badass cavalier, we follow a new (and borderline unreliable) narrator—Harrowhark Nonagesimus—as it becomes evident that her memories were mysteriously altered when she became a Lyctor. I've seen countless reviewers agree that Harrow the Ninth is a somewhat difficult book to get into. Instead of being set in Canaan House, the story kicks off following an almost entirely unfamiliar supporting cast on board the Emperor’s spaceship. This, paired with Harrow’s muddled memories, leaves us only half aware of what’s really going on. The sense of mystery only served to intrigue me more though, and every little detail eventually came back to form a groundbreaking conclusion! “Oh, we’ll still hate each other, my dear, we have hated each other too long and too passionately to stop… but my bones will rest easy next to your bones.” Dare I say, I think I loved this cast more than that of book one? Mercymorn was exactly the moody, “I-take-no-bullshit” Lyctor I needed. Ortus turned out to be a real sweetheart! The Emperor swayed me with his mentor-like attitude. And Augustine, whew boy did I fall hard for his snark and sass! I surprisingly grew to like Ianthe (sue me) and Harrow was a delight! Tamsyn Muir’s vocabulary always stands out to me; her descriptions are always so precise and bizarre (in ways that I could only imagine accomplishing myself). The expansion of her worldbuilding superseded everything built in book one perfectly; the exploration of resurrected planets and their monsters never got boring. Everything about this book was a thrill, especially those last few chapters! What and ending!! ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
May 24, 2021
|
May 29, 2021
|
May 24, 2021
|
Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
0345539788
| 9780345539786
| 0345539788
| 4.27
| 574,299
| Jan 28, 2014
| Jan 28, 2014
|
it was amazing
| “I killed their pack leader,” Sevro says when I ask why the wolves follow him. He looks me up and down and flashes me an impish grin from bene “I killed their pack leader,” Sevro says when I ask why the wolves follow him. He looks me up and down and flashes me an impish grin from beneath the wolf pelt. “Don’t worry, I wouldn’t fit in your skin.” It’s mandatory for me to start this review by reminding myself how much I love Sevro. I think my fondness for him (alongside Darrow and my girl Mustang) are the only things still consistent with my opinion of Red Rising before this reread. I’ve been dying to give this book another chance for over two years now—since my fond memories of it just didn’t match up with my initial three star rating—and I’m so happy to have loved it intensely, like I suspected I would! The fandom pretty much agrees that Red Rising is the weakest book in this series for its Hunger Games like premise. During my first read, it was said theme dominating the latter half of the story that prompted my lower rating, even though the beginning was one of my favourites ever in sci-fi . I don’t know what changed during this reread, but I absolutely LOVED the battle royale esque scenario that Darrow was placed into. The skirmishes between warring Houses got bloody and brutal very quickly, and I couldn’t get enough of seeing Darrow carve his way into leadership despite the unprecedented circumstances. Almost every plot twist got me (view spoiler)[especially the ones involving Titus and the capture of Proctors (hide spoiler)] which—alongside the fast-paced action and scheming—kept me at the edge of my seat the entire time. All of these characters are incredible. Darrow himself is such a get-it-done type protagonist, and seeing him have to bulldoze his way through countless obstacles, even when his morality is put into question, really hit deep for me. There were several moments meant to really test Darrow’s will (like (view spoiler)[JULIANNN (hide spoiler)]) that never failed to test mine too…. witnessing such an outwardly strong character let himself cope and cry left me near tears every time. Kudos to Brown for putting me through the ringer. Darrow is easily one of my favourite protagonists in sci-fi. “You do not follow me because I am the strongest. Pax is. You do not follow me because I am the brightest. Mustang is. You follow me because you do not know where you are going. I do.” I can’t not mention the other greats, Sevro and Mustang. Aside from Darrow, I love these two to death. Something about the crazies with a good heart (Sevro) hits me straight in the heart. Every mention of his band of wolves appearing in battle or making an ambush made me stupidly happy. I really hope to see his strange friendship with Darrow flourish in the books to come. Then we have Mustang, who’s been my girl since day one. She’s the realest, she invented badassery, etc etc. I’m not sure if Brown will continue to push the kinda sorta romance between her and Darrow as the series progresses, but I love them both, so them together would be even better!! For such a short first instalment (in this genre anything below 400 pgs is short to me), an impressive amount of world building, character backstory and tension has already been established. Things can only go up from here, and with how fantastic Red Rising was, I’m eager to finally be catching up with this series! ...more |
Notes are private!
|
2
|
Jul 2023
Feb 13, 2021
|
Jul 06, 2023
Feb 26, 2021
|
Jan 04, 2021
|
Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
0316126063
| 9780316126069
| 0316126063
| 4.25
| 20,294
| Oct 03, 2017
| Oct 03, 2017
|
it was amazing
| “Before the Devil breaks you, first he will make you love him.” Oh hell, I’m impressed. This was by far the best book in The Diviners series, havin “Before the Devil breaks you, first he will make you love him.” Oh hell, I’m impressed. This was by far the best book in The Diviners series, having exceeded my expectations by a considerable amount. The character development paired with the constantly moving plot and relentless new revelations made for something really great. In this instalment, the Diviners band together in order to take on the threat of lurking spirits. All over the country, people have begun reporting visions of ghosts and reoccuring dreams of a man in a stovepipe hat--the King of Crows. When patients of the Ward’s Island insane asylum begin warning of threats regarding these same spirits, the Diviners are forced to act. For a series commencing in New York amidst the 1920’s, the diverse representation is lovely to see, and so well done. Libba Bray includes jewish, gay, asian, black, and disabled main characters into her narrative while doing a spectacular job at handling the discriminations of the time through them. “We are a country built by immigrants, dreams, daring, and opportunity. We are a country built by the horrors of slavery and genocide, the injustice of racism and exclusion. These realities exist side by side. It is our past and our present. The future is unwritten. This is a book about ghosts. For we live in a haunted house.” I loved how well balanced each aspect of this story was. There was a perfect amount of buildup, plot turmoil, character development and romance. The pacing was consistent throughout the entirety of the novel with never a dull moment. Bray’s writing is one of the greatest things about this series. It’s easily some of the best in the young adult genre. Her way of embodying the past through narrative is incredbly well done; the dialogue encompasses the old New York atmosphere perfectly. I’m left really eager for the final book in this series, The king of Crows. I’ve got a feeling it won’t disappoint! ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Jun 20, 2020
|
Jun 22, 2020
|
May 15, 2020
|
Hardcover
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
my rating |
|
|
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4.34
|
it was amazing
|
Jan 03, 2024
|
Dec 22, 2023
|
||||||
4.54
|
it was amazing
|
Dec 15, 2023
|
Nov 29, 2023
|
||||||
4.57
|
it was amazing
|
May 06, 2024
not set
|
Nov 18, 2023
|
||||||
4.52
|
it was amazing
|
Aug 18, 2023
|
Aug 03, 2023
|
||||||
4.48
|
it was amazing
|
Aug 02, 2023
|
Jul 12, 2023
|
||||||
4.31
|
it was amazing
|
Jan 03, 2023
|
Dec 30, 2022
|
||||||
3.52
|
it was amazing
|
Feb 18, 2023
|
Oct 26, 2022
|
||||||
4.32
|
it was amazing
|
Jun 15, 2021
|
Aug 19, 2022
|
||||||
4.71
|
it was amazing
|
Aug 16, 2022
|
Aug 16, 2022
|
||||||
4.63
|
it was amazing
|
Aug 27, 2022
|
Aug 11, 2022
|
||||||
4.40
|
it was amazing
|
Jul 27, 2022
|
Jul 21, 2022
|
||||||
4.08
|
it was amazing
|
Jun 28, 2022
|
Jun 24, 2022
|
||||||
4.05
|
it was amazing
|
Dec 27, 2024
Feb 03, 2022
|
Jan 11, 2022
|
||||||
4.28
|
it was amazing
|
Jan 20, 2022
|
Jan 06, 2022
|
||||||
3.83
|
it was amazing
|
Jul 14, 2021
|
Jul 02, 2021
|
||||||
4.28
|
it was amazing
|
Oct 24, 2022
|
Jun 22, 2021
|
||||||
4.32
|
it was amazing
|
Jun 12, 2021
|
Jun 11, 2021
|
||||||
4.29
|
it was amazing
|
May 29, 2021
|
May 24, 2021
|
||||||
4.27
|
it was amazing
|
Jul 06, 2023
Feb 26, 2021
|
Jan 04, 2021
|
||||||
4.25
|
it was amazing
|
Jun 22, 2020
|
May 15, 2020
|