I've been really excited for this book for a couple of months now and I'm glad I got the chance to read it, because it's a fun read, with romance, pirI've been really excited for this book for a couple of months now and I'm glad I got the chance to read it, because it's a fun read, with romance, pirates, politics and even some emotional moments too.
I do wish it had more action, the bigger focus was on the politics and romance, and the action was mostly at the start and at the end.
The characters were likable, I don't have any faves though. Xích Si seemed like she'd be my fav, but she acted immature throughout the book and didn't quite seem like a parent.
The romance was a little odd, considering one of them is a ship, but you know what? It worked. I'd like more spaceship romances with sentient ships now, please.
I also like that it's a standalone (for now?) and on the shorter side. It ended at 91% on my Kindle so it was a bit shorter than I thought it would be, but it's fine. Things were wrapped up nicely, but if we got more books or short stories about the characters I wouldn't complain.
Of course, I have to mention the world building which was one of the best parts of the book for me. I'd like to explore this world some more.
Finally, the one thing that bugged me is the ace/aro rep which was...I don't know how to say it. It wasn't bad per se, but one ace character was the villain, and another that seemed to be aro wasn't painted in a good light either. Do I think this was on purpose? I hope not. Because if it was...
Anyway, I'm looking forward to seeing what other ace/aro people make of this, I'm pretty sure one of my ace friends loved this book so it could just be down to personal rep preference.
*Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*...more
I finished the series!!!! The main series, anyway. We'll see when I'll get to alll the other books. If I could insert that Elmo fire gif I would (I knI finished the series!!!! The main series, anyway. We'll see when I'll get to alll the other books. If I could insert that Elmo fire gif I would (I know there's a way, but I can't be bothered right now).
It only took me, oh, ten months to finish the eight books, with some breaks in between (and that ONE book that took me 3 months to get through, let's pretend it doesn't exist).
I can still say that I love Dune, or rather the world, and some of the characters, even though from book four onwards the magic started to die a little with each book.
I think it's a series worth reading, and you can stop whenever you feel like it. My inner completionist is only partially satisfied though, I'm not sure I could stop until I read all the books, whether they suck or not.
Did this one suck? Wellllll, it was less enjoyable than the previous one, so...Brian and Kevin tried, let's give them that.
And the plot was all over the place, getting more and more ridiculous by the second. But again, I FINISHED IT WHO CARES??!!
Giving this two stars, it wasn't that terrible, and I'm glad I'm done....more
WHY WOULD YOU BRING BACK EVERYONE AND THEIR MOTHER AS A GHOLA BUT NOT FEYD RAUTHA??? COME ONNN, HE'S PRIME GHOLA MATERIAL!!!
That's really all that hapWHY WOULD YOU BRING BACK EVERYONE AND THEIR MOTHER AS A GHOLA BUT NOT FEYD RAUTHA??? COME ONNN, HE'S PRIME GHOLA MATERIAL!!!
That's really all that happened here, just new gholas being born, growing up, studying who they were in their original lives and getting ready to put plans into motion.
But the thing is, WHY would you bring so many of them back when quite a few of them are useless to the storyline? Another review said it felt like a sitcom where they get the whole gang together for the ending and yes, that's exactly it. But still no Feyd Rautha. No, I will not let that go.
What I like is that we at least know the current number of Duncan Idahos, although I wish we had a proper number for every single life they brought him back to live. I just wanna know okay?
I'd also like to know how much of this was actually in Frank's notes and how much made up by Brian and Kevin...will we ever know? Hard to say....more
OH! MY! WORMS (Yes, I had to mention the worms)! THIS WAS AMAZING, BRILLIANT, SENSATIONAL AND SO ON.
For the first 11% or so I could tell it was good, OH! MY! WORMS (Yes, I had to mention the worms)! THIS WAS AMAZING, BRILLIANT, SENSATIONAL AND SO ON.
For the first 11% or so I could tell it was good, but wasn't sure how much I'd like it, and then it just kept getting better and better and now it's one of my favourite books. So if you feel like clocking out early you can, but I'd suggest you keep reading because it's so worth it.
The chapters have titles and some of them are hilarious, as is Sean's personality. He likes to assign things and people (and aliens) names in his head and constantly makes jokes, even when faced with near death.
Sean is also very kindhearted and never loses that which I think sends a good message. He's always for doing the right thing and that makes me so happy.
Indigo is ADORABLE. His past actions aside, you can't convince me otherwise. I love him and his light language.
OH YES, since I mentioned languages, Sean is good at them and is basically surviving with just that ability which gives me confidence in my own language learning abilities. If Sean can make it through a walking death trap, then I can surely make it through everyday life as well.
Tamara is the last member of our little trio, and you know what? I love her too. I love everyone, all the characters, it's impossible not to. Anyway, she's this hardened soldier who softens up during her reluctant alliance with Sean and Indigo. She does what needs to be done, and has some secrets of her own.
The plot was so compelling that I had a hard time putting the book down. I read it in two sessions, the second only necessary because I started the book too late the first time and was getting sleepy near the end. Otherwise I would've binged the whole thing in one go, it's that type of book.
Every situation the characters find themselves in could potentially lead to certain doom, the chapters aren't long which also makes it easier to keep going and a lot of them end in mini cliffhangers so you just HAVE TO know what happens next.
Speaking of cliffhangers, there's a huge one at the end. I NEED THE NEXT BOOK ASAP!!! I fell in love with this world and the characters inhabiting it and I'd love for it to have several sequels, spinoffs and movies. Or a tv show instead of movies, because then all the cool details could make it in.
If you like twists at every turn, space ships filled with monsters and the found family trope THIS IS THE BOOK FOR YOU!!! GO READ IT. GO. NOW. GO.
*Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*...more
I finished this after 3 months, everyone cheer!!! I was so excited when I started because the beginning was really fun, and I thought this would be a I finished this after 3 months, everyone cheer!!! I was so excited when I started because the beginning was really fun, and I thought this would be a good book.
Instead, all I got was Leto II and the 47858485th (exaggerated, but could be true, you never know) version of Duncan Idaho talking endlessly throughout the book. Everyone else was just talking too, and it wasn't very interesting.
But Siona and Hwi saved this from being a total trainwreck. And the ending wasn't bad either, it was almost on par with the first couple of chapters, so I'm hoping book five continues like that. This is the worst Dune book (for now), main series wise....more
This wasn't as bad as some of the reviews led me to believe it would be. Was it exactly like Dune? No. But did it do justice to the series? I think soThis wasn't as bad as some of the reviews led me to believe it would be. Was it exactly like Dune? No. But did it do justice to the series? I think so.
The biggest surprise for me was the writing. I didn't think it would be possible to get the style right, and yet it was. The writing is as close to Frank Herbert's as possible, just less clunky.
And it's so much easier to guess who's thinking what, I think it's organised better.
As for the time periods covered, I have mixed feelings. I liked some parts better than others, and there's still so much left to go over.
I don't know if the rest will be covered in other books (since The Winds of Dune doesn't go back before Dune Messiah but follows events after), but I can hope....more
There seems to be a pattern with Dune books, where the second half is a lot more interesting than the first, which was the case here too.
The first haThere seems to be a pattern with Dune books, where the second half is a lot more interesting than the first, which was the case here too.
The first half wasn't bad, but I didn't have any problems putting the book down, while when I hit the halfway point I didn't want to stop reading (and didn't until I finished it).
I have a favourite scene too, it's when (view spoiler)[The Preacher tells Alia that he really is Paul (hide spoiler)], that was a really good one and it's something I've been waiting to see since the beginning.
I don't have any real issues with this, except the slight slowness which we all know and love to hate, and Alia's ending.
Originally I thought how Baron Harkonnen didn't get a very satisfying death for how disgusting he was in book one, and now I'm almost wishing he didn't die because (view spoiler)[his death eventually led to Alia's own, and she's one of my favourites (hide spoiler)]. As long as he doesn't show up in any form again I'm good.
And that's 3 books down, 28 (probably more by the time I'm done with all of them) left to go.
Barely anything happens in Dune Messiah and I can definitely see why people were mad at Mr. Herbert for the direction the story took in this volume, bBarely anything happens in Dune Messiah and I can definitely see why people were mad at Mr. Herbert for the direction the story took in this volume, but you know what? I had fun reading it.
Without spoiling anything, most of the plot is scheming, plotting, conspiracies, Paul ruling in his own way, and Alia growing up into the woman she was meant to be. With the addition of a beloved character from the first book, and the reduction of yet another, that pretty much covers it.
We can also see small cracks on the way to Paul's corruption, but that doesn't happen here yet.
I was so sure a big event at the end would be the trigger, but nope. So perhaps the very ending itself is what sets it off? (view spoiler)[Because he definitely survives, he has to. Dune isn't Dune without Paul. (hide spoiler)] I won't know until I read the next book.
Objectively, Dune was a better book, more eventful, all that jazz. And yet I can't bring myself to rate this one lower than four stars (rounded up) because of how much I enjoyed it....more
I had a feeling I'd love this and I'm glad I was right. I'm also not mad at myself for not reading it earlier even though I probably still would've liI had a feeling I'd love this and I'm glad I was right. I'm also not mad at myself for not reading it earlier even though I probably still would've liked it then.
Firstly, Dune was not confusing? So many people said it was and it's really not. Yeah, you get thrown into the world and you have no idea what's going on at first, but as it goes on things start to become clear.
It's probably even easier if you reference the terminology at the end (which I didn't do, partially because I'm lazy and partially because I trusted myself I could figure it out and - I did).
The pacing is slower at the beginning too, mainly in the first part, but even that has a lot of interesting scenes so it's not hard to push through.
After part two it's all smooth sailing and it gets better and better. Part three is my absolute favourite because of the sheer chaos, but part two is right up there with it.
I love all the characters (NOT Baron Harkonnen), especially Paul, Alia and Feyd-Rautha (view spoiler)[WHY DID HE HAVE TO DIE???? (hide spoiler)].
I think they're all interesting in their own way and Frank Herbert really managed to make them feel alive.
Another thing about Dune is that when the story gets going, time passes by fast, at least for me. I read all of part two in one go and all of part three in one go, and they're not short. I think I could've read both in one day if I wanted to because they were that good.
As a little bonus, I'm going to mention the random Serbian words in the book.
“Ima trava okolo! I korenja okolo!” Which then Jessica translates as “These are ashes! And these are roots.” And...that's incorrect. The actual meaning would be "there's grass (or there are herbs) around and there's roots around".
Buuuut, since it's supposed to be a made up language I can give it a pass. It's just funny to see.
I'll definitely be reading the next books. Hopefully they're even better than this one....more
I got an email about this book a couple of days before it was due to come out, except for some reason I had the date marked down as the 13th instead oI got an email about this book a couple of days before it was due to come out, except for some reason I had the date marked down as the 13th instead of the 11th...which I only realised yesterday when I started reading, so I feel really bad about that now. I also planned to finish it then, but didn't manage to (my eyes needed to rest *sobs*). SO HERE WE ARE NOW.
This book has been an unforgettable roller coaster and I am so happy I was given an opportunity to read it.
Our story starts with Dania, an Enforcer, who has a plan to infiltrate a human trafficking ring and destroy them from within. Her plan goes awry when she's picked up kidnapped by good ol' regular smugglers whose leader is the crown's most wanted man ever since he killed the prince's best friend.
Dania's programming is telling her to execute everyone on board for their numerous crimes, but she's not in a position to do so. The more time she spends with the motley crew of miscreants, the more she realises the King's Law isn't as just as she was programed to believe. There are two sides to every story, which side will she be on in the end?
THIS BOOK. THIS BOOK. THIS BOOK.
I CAN'T EVEN EXPLAIN.
I AM AN EMPTY SHELL.
SEND HELP.
I love Renegade Magic. It's a brilliant mix of everything you could ever want in a story. There's action, adventure, magic, space pirates, evil alien royals, a warm and friendly crew of smugglers and a powerful general turned confused girl who needs to find her way.
This is a book for everyone who's still not over Firefly *cough* we need another season *cough* or really anyone who likes any of the mentioned things above.
The characters are alive, they're natural, no behaviour is forced and it's impossible to dislike them.
I'm a sucker for evil princes and THIS BOOK DELIVERS. I love him. I shouldn't, but I do.
And Enforcers? I don't want to spoil anything but the whole "lore" around them is extremely interesting and the feeding idea is so creative, I LOVE IT.
The writing style is just right, dynamic. I cried so many times while reading because the author managed to get the exact feelings across. Like with the children...I CAN'T THINK ABOUT THIS, I'LL CRY AGAIN.
The changes Dania goes through are realistic. I like how she's more robotic/repetative in the beginning and it slowly fades the further along we get. Obviously she got the most character development.
There's not a lot of romance, but there's an idea which direction it's going to go in. Knowing me, I don't ship it. HA. I ship her and Ty, it makes more sense to my brain.
The ending is a bit of a cliffhanger and I am angry and sad, but it's not the worst one out there. I'm just upset that it had to end. I need book two ASAP.
I AM BEGGING YOU TO READ THIS BOOK. YOU WON'T REGRET IT.
11/10, I would let this book kill me over and over again and I wouldn't complain once.
*I received a free copy through Bookfunnel and I'm leaving a review voluntarily*...more
The First Sister has been sitting on my Goodreads tbr shelf since January of 2019. For some reason, I think it's been on my mental tbr list even longeThe First Sister has been sitting on my Goodreads tbr shelf since January of 2019. For some reason, I think it's been on my mental tbr list even longer since I didn't add the book immediately after I came across it.
I knew I'd love it, but never got around to reading it until it got picked as one of the monthly book club books. This was clearly the push I needed and I finally sat down to read it.
The first chapter starts out strong. So strong that it made me cry. The second is a different kind of sad. They alternate like that, the First Sister's chapter, then Lito's chapter and somewhere in between there were special interludes that I won't spoil.
The FS (First Sister is a bit long to type each time I mention her so for now I'll call her FS) chapters were brilliant. Lito's were a little slow for me, but they make up for it near the end.
This is a book I easily could've binged in one go, and only didn't because I started it before bed and didn't get enough sleep the previous night so I had to remedy that first.
There's a lot going on and there's plot twists. I didn't see the biggest one coming, but after it was revealed I remembered the signs. They were definitely there. It made me want to reread the book immediately. This has only ever happened to me with If We Were Villains because of it's amazing foreshadowing.
Character wise, FS was the absolute best for me. She's exactly the type of main character I love, even though she's not a very good spy, but that's okay.
I appreciate the world building so much. It feels so natural. I could totally see all of this happening and I almost want to? I just want life on other planets don't yell at me.
Also, that cover!!! I've been thinking about it for more than two years now and will most likely continue to do so still. It radiates powerful energy.
Luckily for me, the sequel isn't far away so I'll only have to wait a few months instead of a year. Hurray for me and procrastination!!! But seriously, if I read this sooner as I should have, then I'd probably be rereading it now in preparation for the next book. I need a physical copy. ...more
I liked Murderbot and Murderbot only. Aside from that I didn't care about the humans or the plot that much. But I loved the awkward interactions and tI liked Murderbot and Murderbot only. Aside from that I didn't care about the humans or the plot that much. But I loved the awkward interactions and the snarky snark....more
Oh how I wanted to love this book. I think that's really what kept me going, but more on that later.
I'm 99% sure the release date on NetGalley said thOh how I wanted to love this book. I think that's really what kept me going, but more on that later.
I'm 99% sure the release date on NetGalley said the 19th but Goodreads has two dates, depending on the edition, so I'm doing this in between both of them, probably should've done it even earlier BUT.
I really thought this would be a four star read AT LEAST...and then I started reading it.
I could tell even by the first page that the writing would bug me. It started off very monotone and didn't fit with the whole atmosphere, so it made it hard for me to care that these bad things were happening.
What didn't make it any easier is that the reader gets thrown directly into the action. Sure, it gets mellowed out in the next few chapters, but chapter one was a big confusing mess. There was a sad scene in it, where I thought we were getting somewhere...and I was wrong.
The first half (literally the entire half) dragged on forever. I'm not one to drop books, I will push through, but Rise of the Red Hand really tested my patience. It took so long to get back to the action we initially saw.
The second half picks up dramatically. It's as if the author was taking a nap, suddenly woke up and remembered that something needs to happen.
If I was judging based on that alone, yeah, I could see it hit four stars. Unfortunately I can't disregard the boring first part.
As for the characters, I had no attachment until the final third or so. Only Taru managed to find her way into my heart. And I'm getting lgbt vibes from her? Maybe I'm wrong, I'd still like to see that.
Our two main leads got more likable as the story progressed. I don't mind their love that much because it's barely there. They also fit together like puzzle pieces.
I like that the side characters had a role to play and weren't just there once for convenience.
The setting was great and one we need more of. I love love love all the real and made up words. It's not hard to guess what they mean even if you don't speak a language rooted in Sanskrit (then again you can trace just about anything to it but you know what I mean).
So I'm glad I didn't drop this book. There's a story to be told and I might pick up the sequel when it comes out. It's worth the read if you have the patience.
*Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review* ...more
The action never stops in this stunning debut! Right from the very beginning it's clear the reader is in for a wild ride.
The main character Snake is The action never stops in this stunning debut! Right from the very beginning it's clear the reader is in for a wild ride.
The main character Snake is held at gunpoint and forced to fly a ship (and he isn't a pilot, that would be his boss) by someone who snuck aboard and just decided that yes, today was a good day to steal a ship.
Managing to outsmart the criminal, Snake and his boss head to a bar to look for some work. Their ship is an old rustbucket and there's always things to fix, but it's hard when you're constantly broke. So when they take up a well paying, albeit dangerous, job things seem to be looking up.
Their employer Carla had her reasons for choosing them for the job and neither Snake nor his boss are very happy about it.
But how does the job go? Does the ship get damaged beyond repair or is there a light at the end of a tunnel? Can our boys ever catch a break? Read to find out.
I had the time of my life reading this book, I swear. It was lighthearted and funny, the kind of book that can get you out of a funk.
I got reminded of Firefly while reading it and I love Firefly.
Carla isn't exactly my favourite but she's alright. Snake and his boss are the real gems, they're great together. And the rustbucket is an endearing oldie but a goodie.
I can't wait to read more of this series.
*Thank you to BookSirens for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review* ...more
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