I'm always looking for new and interesting fantasy worlds and this book, with its beautiful cover, tempted me quite fiercely. I loved the incorporatioI'm always looking for new and interesting fantasy worlds and this book, with its beautiful cover, tempted me quite fiercely. I loved the incorporation of the Greek language and the diverse cultural homages throughout the story but, unfortunately, it fell flat for me.
Frankly, it was just too busy. I think Power attempted to world build and build a big story together and the result was a lot of confusion. Just when the story starts to really take shape, it comes to an end, leaving me, the reader, dissatisfied because it took a lot of work, mentally, to get there!
Much is also assumed of the reader and while I understand that when reading fantasy you can expect to just get thrown in, some things were actually never fully addressed until the end of the book. (and at nearly 400 pages, that's a long time).
This is the first of a series and I'm not sure I'll be checking out the next book as a result. I really struggled to just pick this one up and read it and that's not a good sign for me....more
I absolutely adored Wendy, Darling so when I saw Hooked on the horizon I immediately knew this was going to be one I picked up. When I got approved foI absolutely adored Wendy, Darling so when I saw Hooked on the horizon I immediately knew this was going to be one I picked up. When I got approved for the advanced copy, I dropped everything to read this first.
Hooked follows the story, obviously, of Captain Hook. We get a glimpse of his story through Wendy, Darling but Wise really takes it and runs with it in this book. I'm, as always, in awe of Wise's imagination and storytelling and her twist on Pan and the problematic entities within Neverland really just does my heart good. Additionally, her portrayal of the story of Hook not only garners sympathy, but also provides quite a bit to consider when we think about telling our children fairy-tales and what those fairy-tales might be imparting in terms of values....more
Well, that was one of the most backward fairy-tales I've ever read. T. Kingfisher comes in and says, happily ever after doesn't also involve the princWell, that was one of the most backward fairy-tales I've ever read. T. Kingfisher comes in and says, happily ever after doesn't also involve the princess and the prince!
Godmothers? Check. Royalty? Check. Blessing and curses, check and check. But those things we've always viewed as evil or bad in fairy tales are spun around and placed front and center--and not a Disney Villainess way either.
I loved this book quite a bit. Although, the epithet used throughout the book got a bit on my nerves. But Kingfisher's writing is engaging, her imagination is a place to be, and I find that she is increasingly moving toward the fandom that I reserve for Neil Gaiman, if I'm going to be honest. I can't wait for the next book of this series (if there is one, if there isn't ... why not?).
So why not five stars? Honestly, the book seemed too fast in areas. I needed to know more about specific areas that our main character found herself in. I also felt as if the journey could have been so much more filled with adventure. Also, the ending just came so quickly! Alas, perhaps there will be more of those things in the next book (again, because there needs to be a next one!)....more
This year of reading has brought me a few nicely dark, gothic storytellings. Gallant merges creepy house with mirrored realities and creepy crawly thiThis year of reading has brought me a few nicely dark, gothic storytellings. Gallant merges creepy house with mirrored realities and creepy crawly things in the night in a way that works quite well. Although the story unfolds in such a way that you can predict the ending, it's the journey in this story that held me in it and kept me turning the pages.
I highly recommend this book if you are fans of dark storytelling, gothic homes, ghosts, and family curses/destiny....more
I am not a quitter, but I just can't keep going. This book was the death of the series for me. The shift over the last few books into more of a romancI am not a quitter, but I just can't keep going. This book was the death of the series for me. The shift over the last few books into more of a romance/fantasy than adventure/fantasy was already pushing me toward the edge, but being forced into a 600+ story about Chaol was the straw that broke the camels back.
I'm disappointed I won't learn what happens, but it's just not worth my time at this point....more
Still the same pros/cons from previous books. However, I keep having to remind myself that Aedian is a pretty hard-core fighter as well. Why does he aStill the same pros/cons from previous books. However, I keep having to remind myself that Aedian is a pretty hard-core fighter as well. Why does he always feel so weak in the stories??!...more
At this point in the series, I'm invested. Many of my pros and cons remain the same, however. One thing I have noticed is the more serious movement toAt this point in the series, I'm invested. Many of my pros and cons remain the same, however. One thing I have noticed is the more serious movement toward romance. This isn't really my thing these days, but I do find that it moves this series a bit more away from YA that I traditionally knew about.
I do think that the story is progressing well at this point and I was caught up enough that I moved right into the next book....more
Okay, now I get it. Things shifted in this book and finally we're past the somewhat boring story happening in the first book of the series.
Strengths:Okay, now I get it. Things shifted in this book and finally we're past the somewhat boring story happening in the first book of the series.
Strengths: People actually have real consequences. There's deaths happening here of some characters as part of their development. We're moving away from silly romantic love into a discussion of deeper loves. I can't tell how you how nice it is to experience a YA novel where romances come and go and the character isn't expected to be maddeningly in love with the same partner through several books. The development of abilities works well. It's interesting and complex enough to merit some respect (something that not all YA novels can do well).
Weaknesses: There's still a lot of telling happening with regard to the "toughness" of characters. It seems like every strong character in the book likes to have these thoughts where they'd like to kill someone or maim them but restrain themselves. It happens over and over and each time I roll my eyes. I get that Maas wants us to know how badass these people are, but we already know that. Instead, give us some mystery about what's happening in their heads and describe, instead, a look, or a movement, or a tensing of the body or SOMETHING else.
This one was enough of a grabber, still, that I moved directly into the next. Usually I take a break between the books but now I'm hooked!...more
I spoke with a friend recently about this series and she assured me to stick with it. I am holding her to that, as I found that Book #2 of Throne of GI spoke with a friend recently about this series and she assured me to stick with it. I am holding her to that, as I found that Book #2 of Throne of Glass had a lot of the same issues that I had with the first one.
It's just very hard to take a seasoned "assassin" seriously when it seems like half the time she's a smitten young woman. It is more than just saying that the character went through hard times, but there are ways to write actions that should be more than just saying she did this or that.
But I've been assured things get better. So I'm hoping that's the case. That said, I will say the last part of Crown of Midnight definitely started steering the story in one that was a bit more hardcore than the first part (and the previous book). I am interested to see where the story guys, I just have to put my disbelief a little bit aside for now....more
This was my first major DNF of 2022. I gave it my normal rule of thumb -- reading as many pages as I am old and decided it just didn't work.
In spite oThis was my first major DNF of 2022. I gave it my normal rule of thumb -- reading as many pages as I am old and decided it just didn't work.
In spite of being labeled an "Adult" novel, this read a lot like a YA book. I have nothing against YA fiction, but going in with the mind-set of reading a re-telling of Arthurian legend led me to believe I'd be reading it in a style more like the other books I've been reading this month. It just came off as very simplistic: the dialogue, the descriptions, and the arc of the story.
I'm really upset by it, to be frank. I was hoping to find another type of "Mists of Avalon" retelling and, instead, reading what I have now of other reviews, it really went against the grain of the traditional Arthur stories. There are just some things that shouldn't be messed with.
I'm a fan of Scott Westerfeld, but his books make me often frustrated. He has this knack, this ability to come up with really interesting ideas and thI'm a fan of Scott Westerfeld, but his books make me often frustrated. He has this knack, this ability to come up with really interesting ideas and then get about 80% of the way into really knocking them out of the park but then the last 20% of that effort just never seems to match up with the rest of it. I was hoping AFTERWORLDS would finally push that 80% to a 90% or even, dare I say it, 100% ... but unfortunately, it fell right into the same trap that LEVIATHAN and UGLIES did for me.
Right off the bat, let me say this: THE KISS OF DECEPTION almost got a 2-star rating from me. I thought, until about 3/4ths of the way through, that iRight off the bat, let me say this: THE KISS OF DECEPTION almost got a 2-star rating from me. I thought, until about 3/4ths of the way through, that it was predictable, sappy, and eye-roll worthy. Then something happened that knocked it up a star rating. Still, for a book that's been raved about by people I really trust, THE KISS OF DECEPTION had a lot of flaws and quite a few holes in it.
When I finished SHADOW OF NIGHT, the second book in Deborah Harkness' DISCOVERY OF WITCHES trilogy, I wasn't certain if I would even pick up THE BOOK When I finished SHADOW OF NIGHT, the second book in Deborah Harkness' DISCOVERY OF WITCHES trilogy, I wasn't certain if I would even pick up THE BOOK OF LIFE. Why was that? Well, SHADOW OF NIGHT had me feeling overwhelmed and confused. So many names were being thrown around and so much stuff happening that even pushed the boundaries of fantasy in my mind, that I really struggled with enjoying the story. On top of that the romance was nearly to the sickening level. I'd picked up a fantasy book, and while I don't mind romance at all, this was over-the-top puppy swooning.
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