MY HEART IS FULL! I avoided reading anything by Naomi Novik since the allergic reaction I had to Uprooted, and I’m SO glad I decided for once to listeMY HEART IS FULL! I avoided reading anything by Naomi Novik since the allergic reaction I had to Uprooted, and I’m SO glad I decided for once to listen to the hype and pick up Spinning Silver. It is a fairytale spun and remade masterfully into an original tale by itself that made my heart stutter, my eyes to tear up and my face to light up in the goofiest smile ever once I was done with this book. If you haven’t already GO PICK IT UP NOW!...more
It’s been so long since I was sucked in by a story, this is easily one of -if not THE- best P&P variation out there. Playing on the old as time body-sIt’s been so long since I was sucked in by a story, this is easily one of -if not THE- best P&P variation out there. Playing on the old as time body-switcharoo plot point. It’s hilarious, gripping, top notch characterization and just full of all the best feels!...more
[4.5 stars] What a beautiful retelling of an old beloved Celtic fairytale. The heroine is fantastic, and for once I think the first person narrative is[4.5 stars] What a beautiful retelling of an old beloved Celtic fairytale. The heroine is fantastic, and for once I think the first person narrative is a strength of this book because Sorcha is a sweetheart with an incredible mental strength and I just want to hug her and protect from all the bad things in the world! The world is beautiful and rich in history and the lore is just so well crafted the colors are so vivid in my mind.
I gotta say, this is NOT YA and is NOT a vanilla fairytale. There are many dark themes of grief, loss, abuse, and a warning is needed for alluded to and graphic rape scenes.. but overall it has been approached tastefully by the author. As Ron Weasley would say: “you are going to suffer but you will be happy about it.”...more
Hell I love this better than the first one! I’m still emotional over the amazing backdrop of the women’s fight for their rights in Victorian England aHell I love this better than the first one! I’m still emotional over the amazing backdrop of the women’s fight for their rights in Victorian England and has made the shenanigans of your typical historical romance much more enjoyable!!...more
Incredibly entertaining with a background story of substance (for once in a historical romance!). Based on the early days of the suffragette movement Incredibly entertaining with a background story of substance (for once in a historical romance!). Based on the early days of the suffragette movement and the first female students admitted to Oxford!...more
[4.25 stars] Let’s get the Cons out of the way: I know I know, it feels like I’m blaspheming by giving this book anything less than 6 stars! But let’s b[4.25 stars] Let’s get the Cons out of the way: I know I know, it feels like I’m blaspheming by giving this book anything less than 6 stars! But let’s be honest, while I enjoyed the first 900 pages, it has been quite the drag. Sanderson definitely indulged in the pseudo-science treatise about fabrials, lashings, the Cosmere, etc... to the point where no one but a loyal Sanderson fan could keep up. The precious interactions between the characters that made this series the masterpiece it is felt lacking in this one as everyone is focusing now on their own God-like powers.
The Pros...ahh the pros: I know this is supposed to be a Parshendi-focused book but I think the shining star is Navani, and her chapters are probably what saved it (minus the lengthy fabrials explanations). Her growth, her insecurities and her resilience are awe-inspiring. And her interaction with Raboniel are the best protagonist/antagonist pairing since Sarene and Hrathen from Elantris. The representation of mental health in this book was also phenomenal such as PTSD, major depressive disorder, dissociative personality disorder etc... the last 300 pages were a whirlwind of emotions and I just couldn’t put it down.
”Journey before destination, you bastard!” Squeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaalll
All in all, it’s probably my least favorite Stormlight Archive book (Words Of Radiance has been undefeated as my favorite thus far) but it has its redeeming qualities!...more
Only Joe Abercombie can write about the most loathsome scum of the earth and make you fall in love with them and cheer so hard for them like no other!Only Joe Abercombie can write about the most loathsome scum of the earth and make you fall in love with them and cheer so hard for them like no other! BLOODY GENIUS! I swear I’m surprised that I haven’t died from lack of oxygen while binge reading this masterpiece....more
[ALL THE STARS] Haunting, mesmerizing, emotional to no end, fantastically satisfying.
“This is our last hunt, old wolf. And as we have always done, w[ALL THE STARS] Haunting, mesmerizing, emotional to no end, fantastically satisfying.
“This is our last hunt, old wolf. And as we have always done, we go to it together.” *cue ugly sobbing* [image] I have no idea who did this, but whoever you are thank you :')
This is everything I wanted from the conclusion of this gigantic, amazing, frustrating series that I've been living for the past several months. This is clearly Robin Hobb's Magnum Opus, her writing, her plotting, the characterizations....ooooh the characterizations. It's been 3 freaking days and I'm still shook!
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I honestly don't know what to tell you, this is definitely Robin Hobb's fastest paced book, the plot just sort of explodes since page 1, I pretty much read it over one weekend. That's it! inhaled it in 2 days! That's how gripping it is, the sense of horror and trepidation because you know that anything can happen to those beloved characters and that Hobb definitely gives zero fucks for our feelings and is not afraid to do anything to them. Well she obviously does give some fucks for our feelings otherwise this wouldn't have come out as the wonderful masterpiece that it is but you know what I mean..
Whenever I try to think of more quotes to highlight in my review I end up almost slapping the entire novel here, I can't recommend highly enough her writing and I can understand now why this series is called the Literary fiction of fantasy. I can thank her now for elevating my standard to sky high levels when it comes to prose.
Now we come to the crux of this review and what probably every fantasy fan ask themselves when faced with the question: Should I read Robin Hobb? Are her books worth the hype? Well the short answer is: YES YOU SHOULD AND YOU BET YO ASS
Before I get to the long answer, I'll just mention quickly this: How to read the series? Start by Farseer Trilogy, the popular opinion is that it's the weakest series, I disagree, it's certainly not Hobb's best work, but I loved it to pieces! then continue on with Liveship Traders then Tawny Man, here you can continue with publication order and continue on with The Rainwild Chronicles, knowing that it's Hobb's weakest work, or you can do like me and jump straight ahead to Fitz and the Fool trilogy, you won't miss much and talking to Petrik (who hated Rainwild Chronicles with a passion :'D) it looks like it's better to do it better my way, as you'll feel more sympathetic towards RWC characters when you meet them for the first time in F&F and now I have RWC to go back to and enjoy because I'm still not ready to leave this world yet.
The long answer would be the following: This is a character-driven fantasy, I can count of one hand the amount of actual "epic battles" and "physical confrontations" typical of this genre. This is also not only a character study but a dissection of society and the eternal discussion of feminism, free will, slavery, racism, gender identity, tolerance, not to mention the ones everyone love to read about such as loyalty, friendship, family and love. That from the point of view of a deeply flawed (with a flare for the dramatic) hero that you can't help but love and root for since Book 1, so imagine how deeply attached you'll be by Book 16 (70-pages-of-continuous-crying attached I kid you not). Not to mention is that the Fool is probably one of the best characters I've read about in fiction, his mystery and ambiguity give him a certain charm that doesn't fade, and peeling out the multitude of layers that his character is famous for never fails to give the reader a deep sense of satisfaction.
The character of this book are not just characters to me any longer, they are my friends and they are real to me as they can get. You live their joy and sorrows, their triumph and losses, you feel every bit of pain they feel (PREPARE TO HAVE YOUR HEART RIPPED OUT AND YOUR SOUL TORN TO SHREDS) and you'll enjoy EVERY SECOND of it. Let it be known though that this won't be an easy ready, it'll give you many frustrations and sometimes can be a struggle, but the payoff is so worth it that you'll forgot all the bad and remember only the good glorious.
So to answer your: Should I read this? It certainly is a commitment, I would say if by Book 2: Royal Assassin (my favorite of out Farseer Trilogy) you don't feel that you're rooting for these characters, then I wouldn't bother to continue. My favorite out of all the series? Definitely the final trilogy Fitz and the Fool and definitely Assassin's Fate, probably this book will stay with me for a long long time and will always be on my favorite books of all time.
[image] Fitz, the Fool and Nighteyes by Sashamalikart on tumblr
This is a heartbreaking and brilliant debut novel to what would most likely become a favorite trilogy of mine.
I went into this book knowing nothing exThis is a heartbreaking and brilliant debut novel to what would most likely become a favorite trilogy of mine.
I went into this book knowing nothing except that it's a grimdark fantasy set in a military school setting, boy was I wrong! I would caution you to read the trigger warnings before you venture into this one and not dive in blind as it has very graphic scenes, and nothing more horrifying than graphic violence based on real historical events pertaining to some of the darkest time in modern history.
I LOVED Rin! The protagonist is some of the strongest female characters I have ever read and I just loved her to pieces. I saw some criticism about a personality change halfway through the book, but I thought it was natural progression and development of a well rounded character. People can be very confident inside a school setting, and then that flips 180 degrees once they are thrown into the real world (trust me I know, from my experience as a junior doctor, I remember the fear and the “shock” as first year intern!), so never mind being thrown head first into a bloody merciless war! The cast of supporting characters was fantastic as well, not to mention the world building and the atmospheric scenery.
I am not going to go into much further details, for that I think Petrik had already done an excellent job and I could see all of my thoughts already demonstrated in his masterful review writing (no surprise there! :D). Overall, 5/5 stars!...more
“I found myself speaking softly as if I were telling an old tale to a young child. And giving it a happy ending, when all know that tal[4.75 stars]
“I found myself speaking softly as if I were telling an old tale to a young child. And giving it a happy ending, when all know that tales never end, and the happy ending is but a moment to catch one’s breath before the next disaster.”
I have a thing for Robin Hobb's 2nd book in a trilogy, they are always my favorite out of the three or at least on equal grounds with the first book (let's avoid talking about her previous finales stillsaltyaboutfoolsfate), and this is no different except that ASSASSIN'S FATE BLEW MY FREAKING BRAINS OUT.. ehm what I'm trying to say is that this is a great installment.
I'm not gonna wax poetics about the characters or the plot or the world bla bla, this is Book 15 in the series, I guess I'll only sound like a broken record by now.. Let me only say is that this is probably the fastest paced Hobb books (EXCEPT FOR FREAKING ASSASSIN'S FATE!), and I really really loved how the main arc is headed. I only deduced this 0.25 stars because: A. Not enough Bee B. Some repition in the second half of the book, but even with that I still managed to have many feels attacks.
By the time I'm writing this review, I have already finished Book 3 which is Assassin's Fate (hence my disturbed vocalization up above), so for further details on my thoughts on this Trilogy and the Realm of Elderlings, I would check that one out (click here)...more
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