read back in 2021, i wanted to try re reading it back in 2022 so i could read the rest of the series but it has been an entire year with no progress aread back in 2021, i wanted to try re reading it back in 2022 so i could read the rest of the series but it has been an entire year with no progress and i have admitted to myself i’m not re reading this any time soon ...more
Whenever a book describes itself as “Fullmetal Alchemist-esque” I am immediately weary. One: having alchemy does not make you anyth4 stars *may change
Whenever a book describes itself as “Fullmetal Alchemist-esque” I am immediately weary. One: having alchemy does not make you anything like FMA. Two: nothing has ever come close to replicating FMA.
Honestly, though, I can see it in here?
The alchemy itself is actually pretty underdeveloped, which surprised me. I thought it was going to be much heavier, but while it’s mentioned a few times, the hard rules aren’t concrete as far as I could tell and it didn’t really delve into how it works or how it affects the world they live in. Personally I’m fine with that, if only because I’m tired from other media trying to explain it in ways that are far inferior to the god Hiromu Arakawa.
Everything else about it, on the other hand, I see the FMA-esque. Maybe I read too much into it, but I kept relating Maggie and Wes to Riza and Roy (something I would vehemently deny if anyone else said but because nobody else did I’m going to allow myself to say it instead) in that ‘grumpy girl with obsessed alchemist parent and the sort-of-apprentice boy who is kind of sarcastic and also lives with her’ way. I have no idea if this was intentional, but Royai is one of my favorite couples of all time, so points. Also the whole shit government thing. That too.
One thing I will say is that I’m not big on the made-up words in what is supposed to be historical fantasy-ish? Like, we’re clearly in a victorian time-period here, as is stated, why not call these places what they actually are? There’s no need to use made-up human races when you can…use actual ones, yeah? Do they have to live in New Albion? Can’t you just say New York? I don’t know.
It was a pretty decent book considering I don’t really gravitate toward YA. My real criticism is spoiler based, so look away!!!!!!!!
(view spoiler)[ I really don’t get what’s up with Maggie at the end. She trusts Wes, then she doesn’t, then she does, then she points a gun at him? Oh my God? Chill? I get you have mommy issues but what does he have to do with that? She was really annoying me for a while.
GOD speaking of her mom, thank heavens they didn’t make up. I’m so tired of stories where children make up with their abusive parents. Don’t wanna see it, don’t wanna read it. Piss off. Gave this book massive points that she leaves her mom in the end. (hide spoiler)]
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced reader’s copy....more
I feel like this is one of those books I looked at very briefly and was like, yeah man I gotta read this without knowing anything 3 stars *may change
I feel like this is one of those books I looked at very briefly and was like, yeah man I gotta read this without knowing anything about it. It’s kind of hard to describe what’s going on. This narrator is totally obsessed with art history and fake paintings and harasses a bunch of random people to get information on a woman who may or may not be dead (because she’s crazy) (and also has no hobbies) to write her book or something. There’s also an entire chapter written as court testimonies and papers and I was going a little insane trying to read it. This is a really spanish book in that “say a whole lot and say nothing at all” kind of way. Stuff happens, stuff doesn’t happen. I guess read it if you want something quite short to pass the time?
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an advanced reader’s copy ...more
Short story collections are impossible to rate. It’s just not possible for all of them to be good, and usually they’re not all bad3 stars *may change
Short story collections are impossible to rate. It’s just not possible for all of them to be good, and usually they’re not all bad. They’re all pretty much existing in a middle ground.
This book had some pretty good stories dealing with sexuality, romance, identity, family, etc. It also had some stories that made me a bit sleepy. I’m not someone who cares at all about technology, but there were quite a few stories centered around it? And it’s like…here we go. I guess if you’re into that it’s not a big deal. The best selling point is the stories that use more traditionally “magical” elements. I think those stories really shine through.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader’s copy. ...more
i literally don’t know what to rate this i can’t even tell if this is a real book or not because how was there an entire paragraph equating sex to thei literally don’t know what to rate this i can’t even tell if this is a real book or not because how was there an entire paragraph equating sex to the lord of the rings and why does mj hate the movie so much? do i want to know the answer to this question? did this book even happen or did i imagine it? ...more
Loading...
