Am I dumb? I think I might be. I read every single word in this book and barely understood half of what was going on.
This book was sold to me as a stAm I dumb? I think I might be. I read every single word in this book and barely understood half of what was going on.
This book was sold to me as a story about "lesbian necromancers in space”. That was literally the whole reason I read it. And while yes, there are queer necromancers in space, (except not really because Gideon, the only truly confirmed queer character isn't even technically a necromancer), I couldn't find myself drawn to much else.
The book starts with complicated jargon and world-building that only ever kept building without stopping to ensure the reader can digest it. On top of that, while the magic system and the world are constantly mentioned, they aren't explained in a way that is easy to picture and understand. I still don't know how or why the different houses and planets work. For starters, there are spaceships, sunglasses, and dirty magazines in this world. But a sink is something unheard of? Gideon has never taken a warm bath in her life. Paper is rare. I have so many questions about how this world works. When does it take place? Why is technology so unevenly disbursed? What are the other planets like? Who are they at war against? Wtf is going on?
Then there was necromancy, which I thought would be about bringing people back from the dead, only it was more like using bone magic. I barely understood how the magic worked, I only knew that it did. I can only assume that it is because Gideon herself doesn't know, or doesn't care. Gideon knew very little in general, meaning we knew very little through her. Since Gideon isn't a necromancer and has no knowledge and no interest in necromancy, she is often confused by necromantic phrases and terms, which means I was confused too! So confused in fact that I found myself rereading passages to make sense of what was happening. Are necromancers rare? Can anyone become a necromancer? Does every necromancer have their own cavalier? How does necromancy function? Harrow can create a whole skeleton from a single bone, is she creating matter from scratch to achieve this? Where does the extra bone come from? No one knows!
It wasn't until the end, (after I finally stopped referring to the list of characters to keep up with everyone) that the plot really came together. And even then I was just nodding along and pretending to keep up with the story.
The one and only thing that pushed me to finish was Gideon. I really enjoyed all the characters and wished I could see them interact more, especially Gideon and Harrow. They are supposed to be, "one flesh, one end," and whatnot but they spend most of the book apart due to stupid and petty reasons. I wanted to see their complex relationship more, especially with how quickly Gideon jumps between wanting to kill Harrow and risking life and limb for her throughout the novel.
Overall, this book was fine. It was exhausting to read and confusing as heck. But then again, almost everyone seems to love this book so maybe I'm the problem. Maybe, I'm just dumb.
This was interesting enough. I liked it but didn't love it. Super creative and imaginative story and writing style. I just couldn't connect to the chaThis was interesting enough. I liked it but didn't love it. Super creative and imaginative story and writing style. I just couldn't connect to the characters and that made me not care.
Pierce Brown better hope I don't run into him on the street one day, cause it's on sight. This man killed my faith in humanity. He has That was a lot.
Pierce Brown better hope I don't run into him on the street one day, cause it's on sight. This man killed my faith in humanity. He has taken everyone I cared about in this book and made them suffer. It was gruesome. It was bloody. It was downright horrifying. All the while, I was stressed. I was afraid. And at no point did I know what was going to happen next. More than once I had to close the book, walk away, and scream into the void in dispair. I've come out of this reading experience with only two thoughts.
One: Lysander Au Lune is a self-righteous little shit that needs to die.
This was good. I have to admit, I started liking it more the second the romantic relationship between the two main characters started. I am a sucker fThis was good. I have to admit, I started liking it more the second the romantic relationship between the two main characters started. I am a sucker for a romance subplot, however minor. What can I say? I'm a romantic at heart.
But, back to the main story, I really liked this one. It definitely felt like the author's previous book Dark Matter. They both deal with the same theme of multiple timelines/ dimensions, although in different ways. I do think that I liked Dark Matter more. Still, I can't wait to read more of Blake Crouch's work!...more
I've come to the realization that I love Abby Jimenez. I love her characters so much. Her other book, The Happy Ever After Playlist was one of my favoI've come to the realization that I love Abby Jimenez. I love her characters so much. Her other book, The Happy Ever After Playlist was one of my favorite books I read last year because of her characters, Sloan and Jason. And Kristen and Josh were so great in this one as well. My rating is more due to the fact that the book did get repetitive with the whole, 'i love you but can't be with you' thing it had going on. I also didn't love the way it was all resolved at the end. Still, it was so great to read this one.
First, let me just say that I love this cover, especially in person. Also, let me say that I had the pleasure of meeting the author last year and he sFirst, let me just say that I love this cover, especially in person. Also, let me say that I had the pleasure of meeting the author last year and he seemed like such a cool person.
Second, let me say that I didn't really like this book, despite really wanting to.
I wanted to love this. I looked for any way that I might rate this higher because I really wanted to be more enthusiastic about this novel, but sadly, my heart cannot in good conscience give this novel more than two stars. Two stars on Goodreads is "it was ok" and that's all this book was.
While the creativity and imagination of this novel were refreshing and I love the ideas of reveries, I just couldn't find myself caring about what was happening. This is mostly due to the fact that I wasn't necessarily in love with the characters.
The setting was super interesting, as was seeing the reveries and the characters interact within them. Seriously, I can't get over the creative and awesome concept of the reveries!
The writing was good. The descriptions of the worlds were well done.
There are magical drag queens, for crying out loud!
This should be awesome! It could have been awesome because it had all the building blocks for an awesome novel. But the execution felt off and for me, it starts with the fact that I didn't particularly like the main character, Kane and all his choices, and ends with the fact that while the world is extremely creative, I didn't understand half of what the heck was going on.
In the end, I thought this book was just 'ok' and nothing more. Do I recommend it? I don't think so. And yet, I would one day like to read another book by this author because he certainly had potential.
**I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.**
This book was everything I didn't know I needed. Monty is a disaster in the most entertaining yet heartbreaking way possible. Percy is, of course, theThis book was everything I didn't know I needed. Monty is a disaster in the most entertaining yet heartbreaking way possible. Percy is, of course, the sweetest most wonderful person to ever grace the earth. Felicity, though, is the real MVP for trying to hook them up.
This is a story where everything that could go wrong does in fact, go wrong. But, of course, things don't just go wrong, because no, that would be far too boring. Too mundane and commonplace for one such as Monty. In this book, everything that goes wrong goes so horribly wrong in the most unfortunate, dramatic, tragic and hilarious way possible.
Overall, I loved every second of it. I only wish it were longer!!...more
Do you know what I did at work today? I listened to the entire audiobook for The Queen of Nothing. That's it. Literally, nothing else and I regret notDo you know what I did at work today? I listened to the entire audiobook for The Queen of Nothing. That's it. Literally, nothing else and I regret nothing. Perhaps only that the book was too short.
This book was something. It was entertaining, but alas I did not love it.
The book is told from two different POVs. First is Gavin, a baseball player wThis book was something. It was entertaining, but alas I did not love it.
The book is told from two different POVs. First is Gavin, a baseball player who’s on the verge of getting a divorce from the wife he’s still in love with. And Thea, the wife who kicked him out. And honestly, they were my least favorite part of this novel.
The beginning was very annoying for me. The entire plot gets started when Thea kicks Gavin out of the house after an argument. Gavin, angry and annoyed (totally justified in my opinion, although a bit overdramatic) does as told and leaves. Thea then turns around all shocked that he left and asks for a divorce. Apparently, asking him to leave was a test of some sort. A test he failed when he obeyed her wishes???
Realizing his mistakes, with the help of his new book club friends, Gavin spends the rest of the book trying to win Thea back. This man is putting in the effort and Thea is having none of it. And like, I get it. He hurt your feelings and you shouldn't act like that didn't happen. Gavin also totally did some annoying things. But Thea was being pretty unreasonable, in my opinion.
This book refused to acknowledge that Thea is part of the problem. Thea is forever right. She has done nothing wrong. Gavin is clearly the worst and it’s all his fault. Obviously?
By the time that Thea realizes that Gavin isn’t the scum of the earth and she isn’t the saint in this marriage, I really just couldn’t care about her.
(view spoiler)[She doesn’t realize the fact that she’s been comparing Gavin to her unreliable father this entire time. And that even though Gavin has done nothing but love her, she’s certain that he’s gonna leave one day. Her sister was also annoying. Every time Thea got closer to fixing her marriage, here came her sister to sabotage it and put more negative thoughts in Thea’s head. It’s in like the last 15% that Thea realizes that she’s been constantly pushing Gavin away. (hide spoiler)]
All of that said, I loved the concept of this book. There should be real bromance book clubs out there. I also love how supportive and helpful all the guys were. They were all great and ended up getting in some fantastically hilarious situations. If the book had just been about the club, I might have loved it more. Mack was definitely my favorite with his vast knowledge of romance novels. Also, I knew he was going to have his own book the moment he was introduced. He’s clearly the most entertaining, and the one with the most personality, of the group.
Overall, this was a quick and light read. I read it in one go and was fairly entertained. If you’re not looking for something too serious, I’d say to give this a go. I truly do hope you enjoy it....more
Baz is a cranky, sarcastic, salty man and I LOVE him That's all. That's the reviewBaz is a cranky, sarcastic, salty man and I LOVE him That's all. That's the review...more
This isn't a bad book. Not technically. The writing style is still good and all that, but then there were the characters. Boy, oh boy, these characterThis isn't a bad book. Not technically. The writing style is still good and all that, but then there were the characters. Boy, oh boy, these characters. I just didn't like them.
No, scratch that. It's not that I didn't like them. It's that I didn't care. Lee was so boring to me. So superficial. And yeah, maybe that was the point, and you know what? I still didn't like her. At times she didn't even feel like a character at all. She felt like a caricature pulled right out of someone's fantasy in order to be the perfect idea of a girl.
But then again, maybe that was the point? At least, I hope that was the point?
In seeing her only from Pablo's mind, we're only shown an idea of Lee. An idea over which Pablo obsesses, ignoring friends and family and responsibilities. As Pablo goes deeper into his relationship with Leanna, the more his life spirals out of control.
The reason I couldn't cheer for Pablo and like him as a character was that he never did anything about it. He just kept digging himself in deeper, letting the spiral run out of control, willingly as he chased Lee around. It felt like he complained a lot and did little to actually help his situation and that got boring and annoying for me.
Some other issues I had was that there was like, no plot? Maybe I missed it? But also, where was this going? What did the characters actually want? Idk.
Pablo and Lee's relationship was also a bit questionable perhaps. I personally would have loved it if the book focused more on Pablo and his family. His little brother Rain was cool and his parents had an interesting dynamic. Instead, we focused on Pablo drool over a girl for several hundred pages.
All of that said, I did enjoy the ending, although it was a bit cliche. I liked seeing Pablo try to get his life back on track. I would have liked to see a bit more focus on the fact that Pablo was very clearly depressed and needed some serious help. They briefly mention it and then it's sort of ignored and he's magically better.
Overall, despite everything I just said, I actually thought the book was pretty ok. Not great, I certainly didn't love it, but it also wasn't bad. It was more than meh, less than wow. Make of that what you will.
Let me know id you've already read this one and what you think! Or if you're planning on reading it any time soon! Also, which did you like more, this one or Emergency Contact?
This is a weird book. So much happened, and yet… nothing actually happened???
The way I see it, this book was a long introduction to a story that is yeThis is a weird book. So much happened, and yet… nothing actually happened???
The way I see it, this book was a long introduction to a story that is yet to actually come.
It book follows five different POVs. Yes, FIVE. Five seemingly unconnected people with five different goals and five different plot lines.
At first, it was hard to care too much about any one character. It felt like we just kept jumping from POV to POV, from setting to setting. Just as you were getting into one story, you’d be thrown in the middle of someone else’s plotline.
This was made worse by the fact that Hassan got the most page time and he was probably my least favorite of the characters. It’s not that he was bad as a character, it’s that I didn’t like him all that much and I could totally see right through him. Anton on the other hand, my poor disaster baby, I really liked. Also Jude. I ship it already.
The character issue became less of a problem as I became acquainted with each of the characters and their roles in the story.
My main problem is, as I had mentioned, that this all felt like a drawn-out intro.
This is the book where the world and the characters are set up but where nothing much happens. We got introduced to all the major players and plotline and then are left hanging, waiting for the sequel.
The main villain, The Hierophant, is talked about constantly and yet we meet them in the last 15% of the novel for like two scenes in which they do nothing that lives up to all the talk we’ve heard of them. Even the prophecy that connects all the characters and drives the plot forward has no real bearing in this book. It’s just sort of there to serve as a plot device.
Even the characters are just sort of introduced. We only know the basics of them. We’ve yet to dive deep into their minds and see them as their truest selves.
Basically, this book was the preview, the trailer before we get to see the movie and actually see all of the pieces that were set up here play the game.
Still, in spite of all that I just said, I actually really enjoyed the story.
It was easy to read through. It was interesting and I liked seeing the prophecy sort of come together as the story went on. I did call a lot of the ‘plot’ twists’ but there were definitely a few that I didn’t see coming and I appreciate that.
The characters were all interesting, even Hassan that I didn’t love, and I can’t wait to read more about them and see how the prophecy unfolds.
This might have just been the introduction, but I am super excited to see what comes next in the sequel.
Also, just as a side note, I was a bit confused with the world-building. It had trains, but also it also read like the world was very ancient. I feel like with trains come other pieces of technology. Basically, I wasn’t quite sure what ‘time period’ this was modeled after if that makes any sense?
**ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own!**
Gosh, darn this book and its gosh darn addictiveness! I read it in one sitting! I don't know what this series does to me. I couldn't stop reading it. Gosh, darn this book and its gosh darn addictiveness! I read it in one sitting! I don't know what this series does to me. I couldn't stop reading it. I was so invested in these characters it's not even funny.
Last year I read The Raging Ones and while I didn't absolutely love it, I was kind of slightly obsessed with it while reading. I was hooked with the characters and their strange and wonderful connection to each other. I was 100% there for this trio in book one. And I was just as into them when from the moment picked up book two.
This book picks up after book one leaves off. With some dangerous revelations and a world to fight for, our trio must join forces with a mysterious new character to find a magic baby and essentially save the world.
And yes, I am aware that this sounds a bit ridiculous at the end there, but bear with me, I'll address that in a moment.
The characters are what really make this story. It's not so much the adventure as it is the characters that are having the adventures. I loved Court and Mykal and Franny already, and I instantly loved the new character, Stork. They were so distinct from one another. So in sync and yet so unique. They were so full of life and personality and I could just read about them forever, just going about and living their crazy lives.
The concept of the story is also really interesting. I love the idea of having a set amount of time to live and seeing all the consequences of that be present in the story. I love the idea that the Saltarians are winning the war because they can't be killed before their deathday, and obviously they are going to send soldiers with far off deathdays. It's all so creative and interesting and cool.
And yet, this book wasn't perfect.
I had some issues with book one. Issues that I let slide because I was heavily invested in the characters. Some of the issues revolved around the fact that most of what actually happens in the book and most of the things that the plot hinges on are actually kind of ridiculous. This is where we bring back that magic prophesized baby. That threw me off for a minute. There were also a couple of things that seemed a little too far fetched. A little too convenient.
And yet, I read it in one day in spite of it all.
In the end, I think this is definitely a fun series that y'all should definitely give a chance to. It's interesting and fun and entertaining and utterly addicting. I also think it makes a perfect duology. I am so glad the authors didn't feel the need to drag it along and instead gave us a clean and satisfying conclusion.
Overall, I totally recommend this series if you want a quick, fun read with really compelling characters.
**I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.**
I came for the crows. I stayed because I had already given up a couple of hours of my life and I might as well finish.
That said, I wasn’t too investeI came for the crows. I stayed because I had already given up a couple of hours of my life and I might as well finish.
That said, I wasn’t too invested in the story or the characters and especially not in the romance.
It wasn’t at all memorable. It’s now August and I promise you that by the time the year ends I won’t remember a single thing. I probably won’t even remember the main character’s names.
This book starts interestingly enough. Fie’s group of Crows is sent to burn the plague-infected corpses of the crown prince and his bodyguard. Things take a turn when it turns out that the prince and his guard aren’t dead at all, and that they faked their deaths to keep the prince from dying at the hands of his evil stepmother as she plots to sit on the throne.
With a premise like that you’d think that the story would be full of adventure and fun and fights and being on the run?
Well, yes and no.
The book does have an adventure, I guess. It’s just so gosh darn repetitive! It isn’t fun or creative. Its actually all pretty gosh darn boring and I wanted to skip through some parts.
I also wasn’t a huge fan of the writing style or the world-building. I had so many questions, but I also didn’t really care to know the answers.
Then there were the characters.
I didn’t like any of them.
None of them were memorable, to me. That said, some were better than others.
Fie, the MC, was interesting enough but she kind of annoyed me after a while. I could only handle so much of her. Jasimir was the single most annoying character in this book. Every time he opened his mouth I wanted to reach my hand into the book and slap him. He was such a brat. He was spoiled and childish and just plain ugh! If you’re going to make a character like this, at least make him interesting. Sadly, Jasimir wasn’t.
Then there was Tavin. He was likable enough. He might have been my favorite here…if only he weren’t so generic. I’ve read his exact character profile too many times before.
And the romance between Tavin and Fie? Laughable. Cliche. Rushed. Entirely unbelievable. Mostly, it was utterly predictable and extremely boring.
All the other characters, from Fie’s group of Crows to the people hunting them, to the evil queen were all so generic and so forgettable. I can’t possibly tell you anything about any of their personalities.
I also wasn’t a fan of the caste system. I’ve seen so many caste systems in YA fantasy lately that they honestly have started to bore me, and this one wasn’t even remotely interesting or new, other than the fact that the castes are named after birds. The power system was also confusing and at points made no sense.
Also, this is just cause I’m a hater, but why are the people with fire powers always in charge? You’d think the kings and queens would be the ones who have the power to manipulate people’s minds? Or the ones who are immune to the plague that’s killing everyone? Or literally anyone else? But in every single story, the 'firebenders' are always in charge of things! I guess fire is cool.
Also, also, this just made no sense to me personally and it’s the fact that everyone wants to kill the Crows. The Crows are the only people keeping everyone alive. If there are no Crows, everyone in the country would die of the plague. Hunting and killing the Crows put the entire world at risk! It really makes no sense to me that everyone would want to hunt them down. You wouldn't go out of your to kill doctors and nurses, why would anyone kill the Crows?!?!?!?!
But again, maybe I’m just hating now.
The one thing I will say is there are some racial allegories buried deep somewhere in here. Mostly in the fact that the Crows are being hunted and killed by a group of racist ‘vigilantes’ in white robes, that think they are doing the work of the gods by getting rid of the pests of the world.
Make of that what you will.
All that said, I didn’t hate the book. It wasn’t the worst I’ve read this year. I just probably won’t remember a single thing about it come December. I also have absolutely no interest in the sequel. I probably won't even remember I read thi sby the time the sequel even comes around.
Lastly, I am 100% here for this cover. It’s so pretty and so interesting! If only the story lived up to it!
**I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.**...more
The writing of this novel is beautiful and wonderful and I will now read anything that Alix. E. Harrow writes and you should too. She is Rating: 3.5/5
The writing of this novel is beautiful and wonderful and I will now read anything that Alix. E. Harrow writes and you should too. She is one of those authors who write magic, who transports you to other worlds where all your senses are engaged and I loved reading her words.
That said, I didn't fully love this book.
My issue with this book is that despite the beauty of it's writing, I was never fully drawn to it. I would stop reading and not feel any need to pick it back up. But, then I would start reading and be suddenly thrown back into the story as though I never left. Still, putting it down came too easy for me. Picking it back up took too much effort. Then again, I think this was more to do with my state of mind while reading than it was to do with the quality of the novel.
Another issue is that the book felt like an encyclopedia at times. Again, the writing is beautiful, but the story would go constantly deviate from the main plot to give descriptions of distant worlds that we would never visit. For many of you, this won't be a problem. I personally like it when all exploration in a novel is relevant to pushing the plot and character development forward.
Overall, I liked this book. I enjoyed the characters and the general plot, and I absolutely loved the writing. And yet, I didn't love the novel as a whole. I've seen a lot of people compare this novel to the Wayward Children series by and other portal fantasy novels. Unfortunately, portal fantasy is hit or miss for me (mostly miss in the past) and I just couldn't dive into this story the way I wanted.
**I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.**...more
I think I might be broken. The part of me that loves reading and actively enjoys the books I read has been tremendously damaged this past year. No booI think I might be broken. The part of me that loves reading and actively enjoys the books I read has been tremendously damaged this past year. No book I read is good enough. No book can quite pull me out of the slump I'm in. And just when I think that I'm making my way out of the hole a disappointing book like this comes along to kick me down again.
This book starts out pretty solid. The writing is pretty decent, the characters are likable enough, the story is building and the action starts right out the gate.
In the beginning, we actually have a plot or at least the building concept of one. We have an idea of the dangers of this world and of how it all works. We know what is going on and it all makes sense.
AND THEN... it all goes downhill, fast.
I thought I knew where this story was going. I was terribly wrong. Not because I didn't it coming, in fact, I called most of the big reveals. I was wrong because as it turns out, this story want going anywhere at all.
This book has a serious issue with pacing. The first part flows well. Then it stalls and goes nowhere. Then it's like an old car that you're hoping and praying gets you to your destination as it gives random little lurches followed by stillness and then accelerating at breakneck speed before coming to a sudden halt and then sort of crawling and awkwardly lurching the rest of the way.
The real climax of this novel came around page 250 of this 429-page book. Then we just sort of wander around for almost a hundred more pages before the book finally remembers it has a plot.
Then there were the characters.
I liked them. They were fun...at first. But, as the story went on I realized just how dumb Miyoung actually is. She made so many stupid/ questionable choices. She was also extremely indecisive, one day sticking to one plan before feeling some guilt and diving headfirst into some other convoluted idea.
This is all made worse by the fact that most of the problems in this book could have possibly been avoided if these characters communicated with each other. I died a little bit each time they decided to keep secrets from each other or lie or purposely hide the truth for whatever reason. If the characters had sat down and had a conversation so many issues could have been avoided and so many trees would have been spared because this book would have been so much shorter.
Then there were characters who weren't really characters at all, just two dimensional, vague ideas of what a character should be, despite their importance to the general plot (I'm looking at you, Nara).
All of that said, this book did have some good parts. I really liked Jihoon, he was pretty fun and likable. I like Miyoung's relationship with mother, Yena. It was complex and cruel and yet you could tell how they loved each other.
In the end, this book didn't completely suck, despite my low rating and negative review. Some people will like it. I ain't one of them and so I can’t in good conscience recommend this one. I don't think that I'll be reading the rest of this series. I just can't be bothered to care about that ending or anything else that happens to these characters.
**I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.**.
Let it be known that I made the horrible, ill-adviced decision of starting this book on a Sunday night. So, I am sorry to say that this book is to blaLet it be known that I made the horrible, ill-adviced decision of starting this book on a Sunday night. So, I am sorry to say that this book is to blame for my feeling like absolute death at work that Monday because I couldn't not finish this in one sitting.
And even now, looking back, I regret nothing.
RTC.
**I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.**
This book is technically pretty solid. It has all the general pieces of a good fantasy. It has magic, dragons, knights, action, and adventures. It alThis book is technically pretty solid. It has all the general pieces of a good fantasy. It has magic, dragons, knights, action, and adventures. It also has a fun premise, if somewhat unoriginal in concept. And yet, there were some things that seemed missing from the story. Small details that really are what make a story interesting.
For example, Gil, the main character has a pretty generic and lackluster backstory. He was once the greatest knight in the land, then turned away from his knighthood and turned to alcoholism after the death of his wife and child, who are only mentioned when the plot demands it.
In fact, there were large parts of the story that seemed to happen because the plot simply demanded it to be so, and that is never a good sign.
Another issue I had was that I couldn't quite love these characters. They were all technically interesting, and yet I couldn't bring myself to fully care in the way I wanted to.
The dragon parts were the most interesting because I feel like it was unexpected to see his side of things. And yet, I would have wanted to actually see more of the dragon's interactions with humankind.
In the end, I think I just wanted more. It felt average. It felt forgettable. And while I wouldn't mark this in a list of bad books, I also cannot quite say I recommend it.
If you've read it, I want to hear your thoughts. If you haven't and are planning on it, I hope you enjoy it!...more