This dark romance retelling of Beauty and the Beast was a wild, spicy, and entertaining ride.
The biggest surprise for me was the magi3.5⭐️ rounded up
This dark romance retelling of Beauty and the Beast was a wild, spicy, and entertaining ride.
The biggest surprise for me was the magic system. Because this is an urban fantasy, and the magic deals with technology, it almost felt like a sci-fi/fantasy crossover, which can definitely be my jam. In this story, social equity given through social media engagement, can be stored in crystals. Four families own the four social media assets, and so those four families power everything. The political and economic structures are well-imagined and creative using this concept. It also provided interesting ideas thematically. One being that social interaction could be a positive and practical resource. It's easy to think of online social interaction as intangible, but it's intriguing and potentially wise to consider it as an energetic transfer. This book illustrates that by making online social engagement a tangible economic resource.
The character work in this story relies fairly heavily on the trope of innocent beauty and dark beast, but the characters do have interesting altruistic tendencies. Thorn's possessive and violent proclivities are channeled, and Alana's desire for a private and hidden life that isn't perfectly PC for her followers, allows her to experience some self-actualization with Thorn.
The plot is fairly predictable, ala this is a trope-y dark romance, but there was political intrigue and family politics that made the ride interesting.
Readers should check trigger warnings, and go in with appropriate expectations. But overall, this is a well-done and entertaining modern fairytale retelling, for adults who like some kink and spice with their romance....more
This series is absolutely addicting in the best way. I didn't think it could get better than Ship of Magic, but it does!! The character development isThis series is absolutely addicting in the best way. I didn't think it could get better than Ship of Magic, but it does!! The character development is so unpredictable and deliciously complex. I could never have predicted where these characters' arcs could go. The expansion from Farseer is so well-layered, and the easter eggs are great fun.
This installment has really satisfying payoff for some of the groundwork laid in Ship of Magic, and the stakes somehow just keep escalating, as the players expand and the conflict thickens. The plot is truly dizzying and at an all-time peak at the end of The Mad Ship, so I cannot wait to see how it will all tie up in Ship of Destiny. Just the title gives me shivers.
Robin Hobb has solidified herself with this series as one of my top 5 of all time. She is an expert at the craft. Her worlds feel so grounded. Her magic systems are subtle and relational with so many thought-provoking implications. Her stakes have me so invested from page to page, and I am desperate to find out how all the threads weave together. She can get so intimate and plan so globally simultaneously. It's a joy to be in her world, feel for her characters, and watch the epic tale unfold. I cannot recommend her enough....more
The main character was on the one hand curious, resourceful, open-minded, and compassionate; and on the other jThe Grace Year was a mixed bag for me.
The main character was on the one hand curious, resourceful, open-minded, and compassionate; and on the other judgmental, combative, rebellious, and impulsive. The other characters were not very developed, so I can't rate this very high on character work. Tierney felt more like a vehicle through which to tell the story, than a fully-developed character I could love, understand, empathize with, and relate to.
The setting was also contradictory. On the one hand, it was intriguing since we're not supposed to know where the girls go or what they do or how they expel their magic during the grace year. But ultimately, it wasn't very mysterious, and it seems very clear from Tierney's perspective that she isn't really buying any of it. She knows she's going off to isolation, that survival will be difficult and that she may be hunted. The fact that she goes at all is interesting, as she doesn't seem connected to her community or particularly dependent on them. It's not clear why she wouldn't just choose to leave. The potential for her younger sisters to be exiled if she doesn't comply also doesn't feel like a real motivator, since exile seems preferable to living in the community.
Overall, I give this book 3 stars, because I think the primary reasons I didn't love it have to do with my own taste. I just don't feel super interested in women-hating cults. The themes here are solid, but not subtle, and ultimately, the pacing and mystery were predictable for me. There wasn't a lot here to keep me invested, so I was bored and it all felt over the top and not very believable. All that said, I know this is beloved, and I am not the target audience. I will say, that I appreciated the theme that women do better by being good to one another. That men have significantly less power over women when women don't give their power away, and when they see and support one another. There is a kind of magic in the feminine bond. These are great themes especially for young adult women to read about.
Such a satisfying conclusion to a brilliant trilogy. The desolation of Pompeii in this book is so visceral. Experiencing it from the point of vi4.25⭐️
Such a satisfying conclusion to a brilliant trilogy. The desolation of Pompeii in this book is so visceral. Experiencing it from the point of view of these characters who have had such full lives of love, loss, intrigue, struggle, strategy, and resilience, only to see it all put into perspective in the wake of such ultimate and unforeseen devastation was dramatically impactful.
I found myself desperate for any other outcomes for Amara and her family than the hand they'd been dealt. Amara struggles through this whole series to define who she is. She knows she is not a slave, and does all she can to prove to herself and her world that she is a human in her own right, but beyond that, she wrestles with her own identity. Is she ambitious and conniving? Is she maternal? Is she a businesswoman? Is she a loyal friend? What would she give it all up for? All of these questions of identity are resolved in this final installment, as Amara chooses her path, and uses all her skill, cunning, and guts to make it happen.
I loved this series, and would highly recommend to readers who love a story of resilience, self-discovery, and a historic setting. This series features topics that could make readers sensitive. Be aware, that this period of history is not kind to women, and that Amara begins the story as a slave in a brothel. Prostitution and threats of SA are prevalent in the story....more
What a completely immersive book and start to a trilogy! The whole concept of this story—nautical traders who have family ships that are sentient—immeWhat a completely immersive book and start to a trilogy! The whole concept of this story—nautical traders who have family ships that are sentient—immediately sucked me in! The family politics kept me hooked, as the Vestrit family experiences loss and financial difficulties, forced to make decisions that tear the family apart. Robin Hobb makes me instantly care about each character, for better or worse, and as the mysteries of the liveships and the rainwild river piled up, I couldn't read fast enough!
Althea as a primary POV, is such an intriguing lead, because it's not clear that she is ready for everything she wants and believes she deserves. Her motives certainly feel selfish, and yet her foils are so much worse. Kyle Haven is possibly more hatable than Regal from the Farseer trilogy, and poor Wintrow is such a pitiable pious young man. Malta and Keffria are insufferably spoiled and dependent, while Veronica is fearful and controlling. Brashen has his own demons but shows such potential when his focus is directed and his mind is kept busy. The sentient ships are their own mysterious identities, and every point of view just has me fully invested and emotionally attached.
The plot here unfolds at a steady pace, and while the narrative is more character-driven, there is so much promise and mystery delivered here, that I had to keep reading to find out the origins and explanations behind all of them. Kennet provides such an intriguing plotline throughout, as his ambitions shape the trajectory of the other characters.
I love this medieval setting and the nautical theming of these books. It's so clear that Hobb has experience with sailing and ship life, and it feels so grounded and real in these books. The towns, politics, economics, and practical sustenance are all well thought out and delivered in the narrative realistically. The magic is also so well integrated. Hobb just reads like historical fiction even though we're in a totally made-up world with serpents and dragons and talking ships.
The themes throughout are subtle and powerful. The most important being that people can change, that people contain multitudes and don't always know themselves fully. Self-actualization is born sometimes of struggle and the willingness to show up and be transformed by the circumstances that come, maybe even especially the circumstances we would wish to avoid. People hold so much potential, and no one is entitled to anything. Agency is the greatest opportunity. Hobb just weaves these truths throughout her stories so beautifully by writing real, evolving, complex characters. It makes her easily a favorite author for me.
I think this trilogy is a vast improvement on the Farseer Trilogy, so for anyone on the fence about continuing with the Realm of the Elderlings, I would highly recommend beginning Ship of Magic.
This was the first non-fiction history book I've read as an adult. It came highly recommended as accessible and about a woman (rare), and it deliveredThis was the first non-fiction history book I've read as an adult. It came highly recommended as accessible and about a woman (rare), and it delivered! I really enjoyed the structure of the book, showing Agrippina's relationship to each emperor, and the writing was conversational, funny, and relatable.
I don't think this book converted me to the genre by any means. If anything, Southon, makes it abundantly clear that there won't ever be very clear or prolific coverage of women in history, and that much has to be surmised or intuited from bits and pieces that aren't very reliable. It's frustrating and futile to look back at this period of history with modern sensibilities (and I can only assume many other time periods as well). I appreciate that Southon does her best despite the difficulties, but ultimately, it left a bad taste in my mouth. It felt a little like a book not just about Agrippina, but one written to prove the point that women are terribly mistreated in history, and of course, not even well-recorded. As there is no way to change this or hold anyone accountable (as they are long dead), I was left feeling bummed and annoyed, and wondering if any of what I just read was more than our wishful thinking about what this woman might have been like....more
This is one of the most binge-able books I've picked up in a while. I bought it on a whim and read it in a day. For that, it earns quite a few stars. This is one of the most binge-able books I've picked up in a while. I bought it on a whim and read it in a day. For that, it earns quite a few stars. I appreciated this investigation of the ghosting culture and how Alderton represented the "victims" of this phenomenon. So often, those who are ghosted are gaslighted, thinking they must have done or missed something obvious, but this novel helps to show that those doing the ghosting aren't worth having.
This novel also attempts to expose the experience of the single woman who isn't a mother in her 30's. It is often uncomfortable to read, and I'm not sure I loved how parenthood was portrayed throughout the novel, but it was effective in showing how deep the biological yearning to have a family can be, and that it being withheld leaves a woman feeling like a failure, isolated, and depressed. This aspect of the novel had its strengths, but it also felt somewhat caricatured. It was also incredibly unflattering of men in general. I absorbed it as one valid point of view, but it certainly doesn't represent society as a whole. If so, it's bleak indeed.
I enjoyed the comedy and the grief in juxtaposition so much. The parts of the book that take place between mother and daughter are potent and grounded. The way the family has to process the health and mental agility of the father hit all the right emotional notes. It deeply humanizes the main character and shows the ways she is developed and healthy, while other aspects of the story show her immaturity.
Overall, I recommend this to literary fiction readers, but might caution those who prefer other genres. This one can feel like a downer, and there are definitely parts that are very unflattering to fathers, men, and mothers....more
I was so excited to get to this novella. I read it last after finishing Of War and Ruin. Not only has Cahill's writing hit its stride, I was amazed atI was so excited to get to this novella. I read it last after finishing Of War and Ruin. Not only has Cahill's writing hit its stride, I was amazed at how much mystery, history, and setting development this small installment had! I have been itching for an Aeson focused story, and seeing his dynamic with Dahlen and Eric gave all the context I've been craving to their relationship and interactions in the main series. This installment also really helped develop Aeson's motivations and behavior towards Calen specifically in Of War and Ruin. I love how much content and support these novellas lend to the main series, while also having a complete story arc. The action and character work in this piece stand perfectly on their own. I loved this!...more
I don't read a lot of thrillers. So without much context, I found this to be unpredictable, with interesting characters, and a unique perspective on tI don't read a lot of thrillers. So without much context, I found this to be unpredictable, with interesting characters, and a unique perspective on the psyche of a killer. From what I understand of the genre, this utilizes the typical tropes (cheating, small town, misogyny, alcoholism), but it felt unique to me in that it focused on the rationale behind killing, and the getting-away-with-it aspect, which made for a fun ride. I liked how it ended, and the writing style made me care about the main character. I was shocked at one or two points and wasn't overly disturbed or creeped out. All-in-all I would recommend this, but maybe not to super seasoned thriller readers. It's a good entry point!
What an incredible second installment to the Wolf Den trilogy! Elodie Harper has a way of making me stress-read her novels at a frantic pace, grittingWhat an incredible second installment to the Wolf Den trilogy! Elodie Harper has a way of making me stress-read her novels at a frantic pace, gritting my teeth, and white-knuckling it to the very end. I am so invested in Amara's story. She is a fascinating character—her circumstances are grossly unfortunate, yet she is capable, incredibly self-possessed, and composed. She is ruthless as well, and yet she has this soft spot for the ones she loves, it's what makes her the most vulnerable. Her love gives her life meaning, but it may also ruin her. I absolutely love and hate the characters in this series. The dialogue and tension in some of these scenes is a masterclass in effective subtlety and relationship politics. The setting is immersive and fascinating, and the plot has just escalated and thickened to a breaking point. I cannot wait for book three.
I highly recommend this to pretty much everyone. It transcends the normal genre tropes, it's accessible while being sophisticated, and it is sure to make everyone feel something. I love it so much....more
If Jurassic Park and Westworld had a competitor, it would be the Spacetime Defenders Resort and Theme Park, a time travel park operate4.5⭐️ rounded up
If Jurassic Park and Westworld had a competitor, it would be the Spacetime Defenders Resort and Theme Park, a time travel park operated from a theater-like command center like NASA's Houston in Apollo 13. The concept for this story is nuts in the best way. What if you could go on vacation with your family to a resort in the future that has cracked the code on time travel, and set up theme parks in six iconic destinations and time periods in the past? Two families, decide to find out when they go together, but just as vacation is getting underway, they split up to enjoy different activities, and the command center starts receiving alerts of impending disaster.
Before I commit to a new book I know nothing about, I like to give it three chapters to see if it's worth reading. This one definitely had me curious after three chapters, but I wouldn't say I was hooked right away. I'm happy to report that the book just gets better and better, and I hit a point where I couldn't put it down! This has everything: a gripping concept, clever plot, clean execution, well-crafted pacing and build, and such a strong ending! The little twists and turns in the final chapter and epilogue are EVERYTHING. I loved the ride, but the conclusion was such a tight and satisfying landing, it solidified my rating.
The setting also really worked for me. It's intriguing because it raises all kinds of technical and moral questions that are well-addressed. How are the travelers concealed from the natives/locals? How do people coming to the parks from all different points in time not corrupt or interfere with the timeline? How do you keep guests from revealing information to one another from their separate timelines? All of this is explored, and it's so fun! I couldn't always picture everything in detail, but I had a great sense of scope and movement, and the mashup of rides and attractions in a historic setting was fascinating to imagine.
It took a while for me to connect with these characters. This genre is heavily plot-focused and characters are more vehicles to deliver the action. I had to get into that mode and realize character development and interaction aren't the focus of the story, and if the book had any weaknesses for me, it was that. Specifically, two of the characters are 9-year-old boys and they talk, act, and behave as such. Early on, I felt like the story was about unlikeable men and juvenile punk kids, having frustrating and unnecessarily awkward interpersonal moments. BUT McCutchen does a good job of making them feel more realistic and complicated as the story unfolds, and ultimately the characters are shown to be brave and resourceful. All the character arcs ended up feeling satisfying to me without being cliche, and I was pleasantly surprised and more attached the longer I read.
Thematically, I wasn't ready for the punch The Burdened Few delivered! Throughout the story, the characters are dealing with several iterations of standing up for themselves. Reid is borderline bullied by Corey, Liv is pressured by her crush, and Emma wrestles with how to address complications in her marriage. None of this fully landed for me until the climax and conclusion of the story, where characters take a look at their responsibility to advocate for not only themselves but for helpless others. Over and over again in personal and global ways, the story explores the slippery slope of allowing oppression, ignoring, and turning a blind eye. It encourages that agency and conviction that propels people to create their best lives and outcomes, instead of being a bystander or a victim, or worse victimizing others. It also shows a realistic look at how change can happen, it offers an optimistic look at redemption through Tyler, Luke, Brock, Emma, and Alicia's arcs. It ultimately left me feeling inspired and hopeful.
This is an action-packed sci-fi techno adventure, that reads like a film or TV show! It would make an awesome adaptation. It's a stunning debut, crafted with care and put through rigorous production to provide the reader with a quality experience. I'm thrilled to be one of the early readers and promoters of this book! I highly recommend!
Note: I was compensated for an honest review of this book on a different platform. This written review is not sponsored or required. I'm posting of my own volition....more
Those of us who know Keanu Reeves from his artistic movies will be stoked for this collaborative fiction with China Mieville. I went in with high hopeThose of us who know Keanu Reeves from his artistic movies will be stoked for this collaborative fiction with China Mieville. I went in with high hopes that this would deliver an original, compelling, and intellectually and emotionally evocative narrative. My hopes were not in vain.
Because this book is so stylistically different, it's tough to review following my normal formula of plot, characters, and setting. Instead, I want to talk about how immersive and trippy it was to read the three branches of the narrative. The first branch is the present: a futuristic setting where B, the main character, is over 80,000 years old, and part of a military special force. This part of the story is told in a traditional format, in third-person past tense. The second branch of the story is specific flashbacks of B's experiences, but these are told in second-person narrative. And finally, some of my favorite pieces of the story are delivered as first-person memoirs from individuals who had interactions with B. Each of these branches is given its own tone and had me reading like I was piecing together a mystery as I gathered the threads that wove the tale.
Specifically, the first-person memoirs read like short stories. The character voices were so strong, and the subplots in these chapters had their own satisfying and poignant arcs. The language was beautiful, they were emotionally evocative, and they helped to develop B as a layered, tragic, and complex character.
The second-person flashbacks are the most creatively bold aspects of the narrative, and they help to convey the bizarre and alien experiences B has lived. Again, it helped to flesh out this singular character and reveal his innermost longings and pain.
The artistic delivery worked to make me care about a character, that otherwise feels so alien, he could be tough to relate to or care about.
In the meantime, this plot moves like a horror mystery, as we try to understand how weird instances and coincidences are related and discover that B is a target. It's not clear whether he should be a target or not. It's also not clear what he represents symbolically. That exploration is at the heart of this story. If B represents Death, is he evil? Can life thrive while Death is incarnate, invincible, and eternal? This story explores the paradox of wanting to kill Death itself, the need humans have for death and endings, and the terror they feel at not being in control. It explores rebirth, the phoenix process, the longing for change, and the role death plays in the human ability to experience life, how eternity is its own entropy unless change and connection are present. This book achingly conveys a desperation for connection, for kin. It does all of this on a sometimes bizarre landscape.
Ultimately, the book worked for me. I don't think it will be for everyone, as it is more artistic and existential in nature, and deals with themes that are quite mysterious at their core. If you want to engage with the unseen mysteries of life, if you want to feel things deeply, and engage in hypotheticals that are at once deeply human but also weird and bizarre, this will be a rich and memorable ride. I think it marks a successful and beautiful partnership by two experimental and creative artists, who are bravely original and show exquisite literary range.
Note: I was compensated for an honest review of this book on another platform. This written review is not sponsored and I am posting it of my own volition....more
Thematically this was a solid story about characters who find themselves in unexpected circumstances and make choices they never knew they could or woThematically this was a solid story about characters who find themselves in unexpected circumstances and make choices they never knew they could or would make. At the heart of the story is a message about knowing people fully, seeing their history and motivations, and not judging them by their actions. Characters commit adultery, and illegal immigration, and struggle with lust, doubt, and alcoholism. Through it all, we see characters trying their best to show up for each other, make sacrifices, and be brave in the face of personal risk to do what they feel is right. It's a story showing the moral ambiguity present in real-life circumstances. I appreciated these messages a lot.
Overall, the delivery didn't work for me as well as it could have. I appreciate a very subtle narrative with more nuance and off-page insinuation and interpretation left up to the reader. This is a personal preference. There isn't a lot of subtlety here. Readers should check trigger warnings as content gets graphic and violent. The circumstances get bleak. However, the plot is ultimately redemptive and I think readers who appreciate an intense and blunt story-telling style, with clear messaging that doesn't shy away from political and religious undertones will be moved by and invested in the Land of Dust and Hope....more
This is peak reading for me! The characters in this series are each on an arc I truly care about, so I love jumping around to different POVS. Cahill gThis is peak reading for me! The characters in this series are each on an arc I truly care about, so I love jumping around to different POVS. Cahill gets better and better at pacing and tension. In this 1400 page book, I constantly felt hooked and then hooked again. I know he won't pull a punch when it comes to killing off characters or dropping a surprise battle in the middle of a chill sequence. Yet again, I couldn't turn pages fast enough. I'm desperate for the characters to find one another, and so eager to see the meta-plot unfold. This is a story I could see going so many different ways which is exciting!
Technically, the characters, setting, and plot, are all satisfying and rich. There's enough here to really sink my teeth into. It's not complex for complexity's sake, but there's enough going on to show off Cahill's improvement in the craft. Thematically, Cahill is flexing here, and it's going well. He's showing range in moral ambiguity, diverse and intimate motivations, personality strife, and internal complexes that impact the action in ways that feel real but also unpredictable. Not all action feels contrived to move the plot. There's character work woven throughout. There are times when the internal monologues still get a little repetitive and self-loathe-y, but overall I really dig it.
Ultimately, I need the characters to find synthesis of purpose that aligns with their personal values and beliefs. We are getting there, and the ride is just so fantastic. They can't only fight to survive. They can't fight for revenge or retribution. They can't even fight for their god. All the characters are discovering a shared purpose of guarding a protecting what is sacred—family, by blood and by choice. And it's that kind of a simple but potent theme, when it sticks the landing, that's so damn good. It cuts through all the philosophical noise and packs that emotional punch I look for in an epic.
I enjoyed Dayne's back story, and feel more connected to his point of view in the main series after reading this. It certainly helps to show how the EI enjoyed Dayne's back story, and feel more connected to his point of view in the main series after reading this. It certainly helps to show how the Empire cannot be allowed to continue, though the main series shows their moral ambiguity, and there are certainly redeemable characters under their sway. It was helpful to see Dayne's parents as characters and to see how Aeson has been so involved in the uprising and rebellion all the way back to The Fall.
Definitely worth a read for those entrenched in the Bound and the Broken saga. Cahill does an amazing job with the novellas!...more
The sequel to Of Blood and Fire is a massive uptake in stakes and cast of characters! Following an unexpected conflict, the characters are thwarted anThe sequel to Of Blood and Fire is a massive uptake in stakes and cast of characters! Following an unexpected conflict, the characters are thwarted and separated. Thus begins one quest to get back, and another to find the Draleid. Meanwhile, Ella is in unlikely and dangerous company as she tries to make it to Berona. Within the dwarfen freehold, assassins are on the lose, and no one feels safe. Rist begins his training with the order, and forms connections. In another part of the world, a prince comes home, and his country prepares for rebellion.
The characters in this series are becoming some of my favorites. I wish we spent less time on inner monologue as it can get repetitive and doesn't feel necessary, but it does show how each character is developing as their world changes very rapidly. And ultimately the bonds of friendship, political maneuvering, maturation, and slow reveals of motives and backstories just drive this thing so beautifully! It compensates for the monologues. I care. I'm stressed. I can't turn pages fast enough, and I'm truly terrified I'm going to lose someone I love. All of this earns 5 stars because it's such a peak reading experience to feel this invested.
On top of that, we get to really explore the map, history, and magic system in this installment, and this world feels so lush. It's reminiscent of so many classics in the genre, and I can tell Cahill spends all his time in this world thinking about its history. I love how the dragon bond and the spark work in this world.
The plot here works even better than in Of Blood and Fire, and it all feels like it's building towards something epic. I love that through Rist, I can see how the Order thinks, operates, and justifies its actions. I find myself fascinated by the shades of grey. I also see the imperfections in the heroes and appreciate the nuance and complexity Cahill is building into everything.
This one ends on an epic reveal, with stakes higher than ever. I immediately have to read Of War and Ruin!...more
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