As many of you may know, I'm from Bangladesh. Recently there was a student protest in my country. The government failed to handle the situation peacefAs many of you may know, I'm from Bangladesh. Recently there was a student protest in my country. The government failed to handle the situation peacefully and due to their mismanagement a intense political unrest brewed. Lots of innocent people died at the hands of miscreants and by the bullets that the police fired. The entire country went under curfew for days. Some miscreants burnt the data centre and nobody had access to internet for almost a week. We were ordered to stay at home unless there's an emergency. So we did. I had nothing better to do but read books. Thus I ended by reading 8 books in the period of 6 days. "Never Let me Go" was one of them. And that's how I found one of my favorite books of the year....
The less you know about this book, the more you'll enjoy it. If you like fast paced action-packed stories, you probably won't enjoy this book. If you're someone who needs to know what they're up against & want all the details laid out in front of them - then "Never Let Me Go" is not for you.
The story is very slow paced. At times, you may wonder why we are even reading about some mundane events in the lives of some teenagers. Slowly but surely everything will start making sense.
In this book, Kazuo Ishiguro imagines the lives of a group of students growing up in a darkly skewed version of contemporary England. Narrated by Kathy, now thirty-one, Never Let Me Go dramatises her attempts to come to terms with her childhood at the seemingly idyllic Hailsham School and with the fate that has always awaited her and her closest friends in the wider world. A story of love, friendship and memory, Never Let Me Go is charged throughout with a sense of the fragility of life....more
At the beginning, I struggled with the writing style, finding it difficult to comprehend—almost like deciphering pirates' language. However, this ceasAt the beginning, I struggled with the writing style, finding it difficult to comprehend—almost like deciphering pirates' language. However, this ceased to bother me after a while. The inarticulate shifts in narrative, though, continued to be problematic until the end. The POVs changed frequently and abruptly. While this narrative style isn't uncommon in the historical romance genre, it's been a while since I read one, so it troubled me a bit. Despite this, I am willing to overlook it because the story was so good.
Another complaint I have with the book is the inclusion of many unnecessary POVs. Besides our hero and heroine, we get the perspectives of several side characters. I believe the author intended to interconnect all the books in the series this way, which might explain why we didn't get a proper epilogue for Michael and Silence. I wish this book was more like a standalone.
Scandalous Desires is one of those tales where the villain gets the girl. Make no mistake; Mickey O'Connor is a very wicked man. But underneath his evil demeanor lies a soft and kind heart. I loved reading his backstory and his overall character development.
The romance was excellent. Michael was so encouraging and respectful to Silence. I loved seeing how the cold-hearted pirate turned into a big softy when it came to her. His unwavering trust in her was appreciable. He was a bloody murderous pirate but also a bright green flag....more
E.L. Massey has published 3 books so far. I've read all 3 of them in 2024. I loved them all and gave 5 stars. And all 3 of her books made it to the liE.L. Massey has published 3 books so far. I've read all 3 of them in 2024. I loved them all and gave 5 stars. And all 3 of her books made it to the list of "my favourite books of 2024"! Quite impressive no?
Guess it's high time I add E.L. Massey to the list of my favorite authors
"All Hail the Underdogs" is the third book in the Breakway series, which is a mm hockey romance series. It's neither young adult nor adult; I guess we could call it new adult romance. Our two main characters, Damien and Rome, are so precious. I loved the characterization in this book. The author takes her sweet time to slowly but perfectly develop the characters over the course of the story. Especially Rome's personal growth was pretty impressive. I just felt like a proud parent!...more
Finally I've found a book that I just couldn't stop reading....
"The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" is glamourous, dramatic and heart-wrenching in the Finally I've found a book that I just couldn't stop reading....
"The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" is glamourous, dramatic and heart-wrenching in the best way possible. It is indeed a dazzling journey through the most illustrious years of Hollywood.
And I loved every single second of reading this book. I regret not reading it earlier...
"The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" was quite a cinematic tale. At the core of the story, we have Evelyn Hugo - a film legend and a Hollywood icon. Now 79 years old, she's long retired. The reclusive former movie star is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant to write her story, no one is more astounded than Monique herself.
Determined to use this opportunity to jump-start her career, Monique listens in fascination. From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to leaving show business in the 80s-and, of course, the seven husbands along the way-Evelyn unspools a tale of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship, and a great forbidded love. But as Evelyn's story nears its con- clusion, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Moniques's own in tragic and irreversible ways....more
"Deadly beauty is the starkest variety. And you will never find a murderess more intoxicating, more entrancing, than the sea."
"Memory is often"Deadly beauty is the starkest variety. And you will never find a murderess more intoxicating, more entrancing, than the sea."
"Memory is often our only connection to who we used to be. Memories are fossils, the bones left by dead versions of ourselves."
Brandon Sanderson can never write a bad book. I already knew that but this book just strengthen my trust in him. Tress of the Emerald Sea have easily made it to the list of my favorites books of 2024. And Tress? This girl is in a word... Incredible. Definitely one my the best book heroines I've ever met.
Tress of the Emerald Sea is a whimsical epic fantasy standalone. Every aspect of this book mesmerized me. It was just so perfect. The world building was amazing. The characters were well fleshed and had distinct qualities. There's a cute romance at the center of this book. However, to me, the best part of Tress of the Emerald Sea was its magic system. Imagine oceans of something that isn't water, basically non-liquid oceans....Do I need to say more?? Please go and read this book if you haven't yet. Trust me you'll love this one.
"Danger is like icy water; you can get used to it if you take it slowly."
"Strange desperation is exactly the state that often leads to genius."
"We pretend that love is rational, if we can only see the pieces, the motivations."...more
Reader - *dead* "The Sword Of Kaigen", Guilty as charged....
Pain is all I know now. Intense, never ceasing pain...The last book that had given me such Reader - *dead* "The Sword Of Kaigen", Guilty as charged....
Pain is all I know now. Intense, never ceasing pain...The last book that had given me such deep wounds was "The Song of Achilles". Yes, I am comparing this book with a masterpiece cause The Sword Of Kaigen" is a masterpiece on it's own...just in a different way. I cried my eyes out and bleed to death anyway.
"Stay,” she said softly and tugged him in until their bodies leaned together. “Stay and watch the sun set with me."
✷ · ˚ * . * * ⋆ . · ⋆ ˚ ˚ ✦ ⋆ · * ⋆ ✧ · ✧ ✵ · ✵
"You learn over time that the world isn’t broken. It’s just… got more pieces to it than you thought. They all fit together, just maybe not the way you pictured when you were young."
The mountain Takayubi shelters the Kaigenish Empire from the rest of the world. The poeple of Takayubi lives to serve the Empire. They are always the first one to endure the blows from the enemies when they attack. High up on the mountain, is seated the prestigious Kumano academy - renowned for training the best and elite warriors of the Empire. Kumano Academy doesn't only train its students to be fighters, it brings out the best of them in the light. The poeple of Takayubi are not only warriors but also owner of many great magical talents.
In this multi-pov epic fantasy story, we mainly follow Misaki, a warrior woman who had abandoned her own dreams to nurture and protect her famliy - years ago. We also follow Momaru, Misaki's eldest son. Born into Kusanagi’s legendary Matsuda family, fourteen-year-old Mamoru has always known his purpose: to master his family’s fighting techniques and defend his homeland. But when an outsider arrives and pulls back the curtain on Kaigen’s alleged age of peace, Mamoru realizes that he might have been misled by the empire he's fighting for.
A mother struggling to repress her violent past, A son struggling to grasp his violent future, A father blind to the danger that threatens them all.
"The Sword Of Kaigen" is an incredibly well written fantasy novel, put together with exceptional skill and deployed on a grand scale. I can't pinpoint a single thing that I didn't like. I loved every bit and piece of this book. I enjoyed every single second of reading it. And this is a standalone, which is crazy. Because from where I'm standing, I only see a book wrapped in perfection. The author packed so much into one single book....it's just wonderful.
The prose is beautiful. Yes, writing style is wordy and very desprictive. But it never feels boring. I was enthralled by the prose. It lured me in like a deadly lullaby until I found myself unable to pull away. I was enchanted by the way M.L. Wang writes the emotional scenes. Some of the parts are really emotional and heartbreaking. I cried and cried and cried.
"The Sword Of Kaigen" is a dark and gruesome war based story that also utilizes elemental magic. The elemental magic is a really core aspect of the book. The combat within this book is astoundingly good. It's visual and harrowing. I can't remember the last time I enjoyed the action sequences and fighting scenes of a book so much. The combination of Japanese Samurai style sword play and the elemental magic is amazing to say the least.
The characters are some of the best I have ever met. All of them have just the right amount of emotional depth. The characterization is so good that they appear to be achingly real. You would feel their pain and agony in your bones, you'll want to cry because of them, for them. The author portrays motherhood beautifully. The way she writes about Misaki's relationship with her sons is pure perfection. The author genuinely approaches topics such as family and martial arts and feminism and racism too. The book discusses very important things without feeling it tried so hard to do so. Every emotion, every scene, every character is so well written and so fleshed out, I could relate to them and I loved them and I mourned them and I can’t stop thinking about them.
"The Sword Of Kaigen" is a wonderful book I will like to recommend to everyone out there. This book is a hidden gem. From first page to the last one, it was an epic, wild ride for me. This book is going to stay with me in many years to come....more
Late night read. And I don't regret forsaking sleep only to finish this book....It was exceptionally good. Loved every minute of reading it.Late night read. And I don't regret forsaking sleep only to finish this book....It was exceptionally good. Loved every minute of reading it....more
It's time for the emotionless bastard to fall in love and become the ideal hopeless romantic who wears - shirts with huge sunflowers printed on them -It's time for the emotionless bastard to fall in love and become the ideal hopeless romantic who wears - shirts with huge sunflowers printed on them - on a regular basis.
Let me come back with a review....But it is getting 5 stars for sure.
Merged review:
It's time for the emotionless bastard to fall in love and become the ideal hopeless romantic who wears - shirts with huge sunflowers printed on them - on a regular basis.
Let me come back with a review....But it is getting 5 stars for sure....more
"When the dead betray the living, the victims are memories."
"We were foolish to think the Fhrey were gods, but it was insanity for the Fhrey to
"When the dead betray the living, the victims are memories."
"We were foolish to think the Fhrey were gods, but it was insanity for the Fhrey to believe it, too. I’d rather be foolish than insane."
Back in 2021, I tried to read Theft of Sword, the first book of The Riyria Revelation, Sullivan's first and most famous work till date. Unfortunately, I wasn't a big fan. I ended up dnf'ing the book around 200 pages in. It was probably due to the lingering disappointment from the experience that it took me so long to pick up "Ages of Myth". Honestly, I had no plans to read it. Even after seeing everyone reading and loving The Riyria Chronicles, I had no intention of returning to this world known as Elan. However, Regan from PeruseProject finally convinced me to give it a go. We share very similar tastes when it comes to books. So, I decided trust her recommendation; her raving praises for this book had me intrigued. And now I'm so glad that I read this book, I am happy that I didn't give up on Sullivan. "Ages Of Myth" was fantastic in a word. I can't recall the last time I had so much fun reading an epic fantasy book...Marvellous and splendid. Going to start book two immediately.
"He had a hundred potential directions, a multitude of choices, and the enormity of the options left him paralyzed. Freedom, he discovered, had built a greater prison than his family or clan had."
Warm heart and cozy feelings. You're seriously missing out if you haven't read this book yet...
Like Real People Do is a sports romance between AleWarm heart and cozy feelings. You're seriously missing out if you haven't read this book yet...
Like Real People Do is a sports romance between Alex, the captain of a hockey team and Eli, a figure skater.
I've never been a fan of sports romance. I always found them lacking something. But this book? It gave me all the feels I wanted and some more, that I didn't think I needed.
The romance is swoony and beautiful. Alex and Eli are a couple who always talks, never let miscommunication disrupt their relationship. That's something which I rarely see in romance books these days. The hockey team was also so much fun. I was smiling the entire time reading this book. I really really loved it. Highly recommended....more
“. . . as I tried to put the puzzle of myself back together, it was the pieces of us that made me whole.”
“Love has its ups and downs. But you and m“. . . as I tried to put the puzzle of myself back together, it was the pieces of us that made me whole.”
“Love has its ups and downs. But you and me, we got this. We found each other years ago, and when the universe tried to pull us apart with the accident, we found each other again.”
Perfect! I loved every second of reading this story. The ending was very realistic and so heart-warming. My heart is satisfied......more
Don’t cry. Close your eyes and pretend I’m there, wiping the tears off your cheeks with my thumb. Pretend I kiss the tip of your nose until you smile. I
Don’t cry. Close your eyes and pretend I’m there, wiping the tears off your cheeks with my thumb. Pretend I kiss the tip of your nose until you smile. I’ll find you someday. And on that day, I will show you the wonder of a world where we never have to say goodbye again.
This was great but not as fantabulous as "Make Me Fall". Jonah and Gray have my heart. "Make Me Fall" is still my absolutel fav. Don't read this one if you don't want to but please do read book 2. You're missing out...like a lot....more
Why didn't I read it before?!?! This trilogy was seriously so good. I binge read the entire series within 2 days. Worth it...Why didn't I read it before?!?! This trilogy was seriously so good. I binge read the entire series within 2 days. Worth it......more
You should've just shot me. Why torture my poor heart like that?
“The bad things are going to change you no matter what, and they can make you angry an
You should've just shot me. Why torture my poor heart like that?
“The bad things are going to change you no matter what, and they can make you angry and bitter—or they can make you better.”
"We come into the world ready to love whoever shows up, good or bad—that’s what we do.”
Intense, harrowing and frightening. "Dark Room Etiquette" is an unforgettable story of trauma and healing, told in achingly beautiful prose with great tenderness and care. We are following our main character Sayers Wayte, a sixteen years old teenager. Sayers is a rich privileged boy who has everything a teenager of his age can dream of. But everything falls apart when he's kidnapped by a man who claims to be his father. The man tells him the privileged life he's been living is based on a lie. Sayers must escape from the windowless dark room the man has been keeping him. But escaping is pretty impossible. Will he be able come out of this living hell before he loses himself to its darkness?
I’m sinking again. Deeper and deeper. Until it’s just me. Alone in a dark room. And I know how to handle the dark. You stay quiet, and you wait for it to end.
I wouldn't deny that "Dark Room Etiquette" was a cover buy for me. I mean, just look at that gorgeous cover! At first, I thought it was thriller. But it's not. It's more like a contemporary fiction; dark and disturbing. It also does offer some decent twists and turns, incredibly well written character relationships and a wonderful main character who would stay with me in years to come. I wanna hug Sayers so bad right now...
"Your mind can stay trapped even when your body is free."
This book was just perfect. It was enthralling and fast paced. The wickedly interesting plotline immediately gripped my attention, lured me in like a deathly lullaby and didn't let go until I had finished it. It was emotional and thought provoking. You're going to cry yourself to sleep, I promise. I cried like an infant while reading it.
"I’m bitter and dazed—I hate him—I’ve missed him."
Highly highly recommended. Please make sure to check the trigger warnings beforehand....more
It was really good. But God! Did it drag...Also I was given some wrong information. I thought there would be more of the #Middle_book_syndrome
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It was really good. But God! Did it drag...Also I was given some wrong information. I thought there would be more of the war beasts. I expected them to be the main focus of the story. But that didn't happen. Some of the characters lost their charm...It was quite underwhelming tbh. However Vintage makes it all better ☺
Vintage, Tor, Noon, Aldasair and Bern - I really loved these characters in the first instalment. But in this one? Not so much. Well, except for Vintage. She was perfect as always. It felt as though the other characters have lost all their charms. There was depth in any of these characters. They seemed two dimensional and boring. Noon was stiff and distant throughout the whole book. While I absolutely loved Tormalin in "The Ninth Rain", he annoyed the hell out of me here. His actions were immature and stupid. He was whining all the damn time. I really missed my humorous and charming Tormalin, the oathless. I missed his jokes. His comedic timing has always been so perfect. But Tor hardly cracked anything jokes in this book. Aldasair and Bern were solid characters. However I would've preferred to read Bern's pov, which didn't happen of course.
I was excited to meet the war beasts. But Jen Williams disappointed me. I kind of hated Vostok. Kirune was so cute! I expected some "bonding" moments between the war beasts and their riders. But there was none. Williams tells us that they have bonded, but we don't get to see that. Emotions were completely absent in the narration of this book. No inner monologues, no commentaries. "The Bitter Twins" was a plot driven book through abd through. And I prefer characters focused stories. So, it really didn't work for me....more
Unique and fascinating. A perfect blend of sci-fi and fantasy. The cast of characters is beyond amazing. I loved this book would be an understatement Unique and fascinating. A perfect blend of sci-fi and fantasy. The cast of characters is beyond amazing. I loved this book would be an understatement in this case.
The continent of Sarn has suffered from many alien invasions from an enemy known as the Jure’lia, the worm people. The Eboran empire, a once wealthy and prosperous place, for centuries has been the central defence against this formidable foe. Their tree-god, Ygseril, would deliver various war beasts that would aid the valiant Eboran warriors during the battles, and each time the Jure’lia were defeated. However, in the last assault, known as the eighth rain, a final climax between Ygseril and the Jure’lia caused the death of the sacred tree-god. Now, Ebora is in ruin and Sarn faces the ever terrifying prospect of another invasion, but this time without their defenders.
Eborans are on the verge of extinction following the death of their tree-like god Ysegril but Hestillion is doing all she can to keep him alive. In fact she'll go to any lengths to save him… any lengths at all. Hest's brother Tormalin can't sit around and wait for the end. So he's engaged by Lady Vincenza (Vintage) de Grazon to be her factotum and hired sword during her quest for knowledge. It's turning into more of an adventure than they'd planned, even before Fell witch and fugitive Noon joins them. Now the trio must work together, putting prejudices and passions aside (others' as well as their own). The Ninth Rain is coming and more than Ebora is in danger.
The synopsis of this book is really really confusing. I read it several times yet couldn't grasp on what it's supposed to mean...Therefore, you can say I started it blindly, knowing almost nothing about the trilogy. I only knew that our main character is 40 years old and possibly queer. That's it. And I really had no difficulties getting into it. The writing is very accessible. The book is fast paced. Explains the vast world and the magic system thoroughly. Just be patient and enjoy the company of the characters. The information will come to you by themselves.
I loved the inimitable world Jen Williams has created. It's epic in scope, full of magic and magical creatures. The world building has the perfect blend of Sci-fi and Fantasy. In this world, an inhuman species called Eborans reside alongside the humans. They have a very long life span. The Eborans are graceful warriors, the sole protectors of the land. These Eborans are like an unison of human, vampire and elf. Then we have Eboran war beasts. Very fascinating creatures. However we don't get to see them much in the first book. We also have witches in this world. The witches posses fire magic that's called Winnow flame. Then there are these worm pe0ple who wants to destroy the land........more
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