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| 1913468232
| 9781913468231
| B0CD86V57Y
| 4.50
| 42
| unknown
| Oct 10, 2023
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it was amazing
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I can’t tell you how fast I jumped on the chance to read this ARC. Thank you to Phil Williams for the ecopy! ** So, wow what a book However Many Must D I can’t tell you how fast I jumped on the chance to read this ARC. Thank you to Phil Williams for the ecopy! ** So, wow what a book However Many Must Die was! I don’t know what it is I love so much about Phil’s women characters, but Wild Wish has to be my newest favourite. Wish is part of an all women troop of soldiers called the Blood Scouts. When information suggests that the other side is experimenting- making a new weapon that could turn the war in their favour and kill hundred of thousands in the process, she is hastily promoted and tasked with leading the Boot scouts on a mission that sends them deep into enemy territory. Wish hasn’t been part of the scouts long but during wartime you learn fast, and get promoted quickly. Characters Most of the story in However Many Must Die is brought to us through either Wild Wish- an officer in the Stanclif army, and Constans Marringdale- a Purification officer in Drail Empire. Between the two we get a good look at the world at large, cultures/beliefs and some of the politics. Epigraphs do a bit of the heavy-lifting here as well filling in the minute details of history, miliary, and the war. Wild Wish is probably the first character I’ve read that I felt really grew into their name. The other women all had military nicknames that you knew right-off why they were earned, but Wish’s name- while still obvious- became her as the story progressed. Wish seems meek at first and maybe even a bit naïve or just young. She’s overwhelmed with it all- what’s she’s doing, the losses of her friends etc. but she has this underlying steel that makes her a survivor and you can’t help but love her and hope she gets to go home to her farm, and live out her life near her friends. I think the fact that she wasn’t one of those brash women you sometimes see, especially in UF, is what appealed to me the most. Maringdale on the other hand, is tough as nails. Cold and determined, she will do what she feels needs to be done for the Drail empire to succeed. Maringdale is a Witlacer- a type of magic user- her gift is kind of like a truth detector/intentions finder which she uses like a drug dog sniffing out spies and other threats. The Drail Empire has no room for women in its army or any position of importance for that matter, so she has to be extra ruthless to be taken seriously. (This is something the Stanclif are no better about but they at least have more will to make concessions by allowing women in their army- even if they sure don’t value them like they do their men.) ** The Blood Scouts’ Boot squad is large and in a lot of way are like a big found family (which is probably why I loved them). Some of the characters move in and out of focus but it never feels like too much at once, or even too small. The size gives room to move them around or to lose people and let me tell you- no one is safe here. It’s a war zone and we never are allowed to forget just how dangerous it is, or that it isn’t always the enemy that gets you- sometimes it’s the terrain or creatures. There’s an art to handling a large group of characters, especially in a battle without getting whiplash and this is it. Occasionally we have accounts of the Blood scouts, as scarily ruthless women from soldiers on the other side of the war…which they are, but because we spend so much time with them, to us, these same deadly soldiers just feel like young women trying to survive and not lose anymore of the friends they have made along the way. Magic There are two types of magic- Witlacing and Dirtminding. I like how simple the magic is to understand while still encompassing every thing from the physical- moving earth or objects, to the intangible- influencing the mind etc. Also there are heavy consequences for its use- the toll on their bodies or minds are unmistakeable. World There is a fair bit of travel so we get an idea of the landscape and I really enjoyed these parts. It never felt boring. The downtime gave us some nice moments with our characters and the travel time gave us some really fun things along the way. Every time they’re passing through a new part of the world, I’d think it can’t get any cooler than this! I loved the scenes approaching the Horns of Heaven and that whole sequence working through the caves. I loved the movie Shooter (I should probably get around to that book series someday) which might be why some of my favourite ‘military’ parts of the story were the sniper scenes. There was a great sequence where they’re moving in on some Drail bunkers, that really brought the sniper work to life. You wouldn’t think something like long distance shooting could be so tense but somehow the combination of that and the moving soldiers up the ridge, just had me on the edge of my seat. Other Notes- I did find However Many Must Die took me a bit to settle in. I couldn’t decide whether it was intentional because Wish is also settling-in and feeling a little out-of-depth with all that’s going on around her or if it was just that typical, new series finding my feet in the world and its terms, settling in. Once I was settled in- I couldn't put it down. Tldr: Loved this one. Excellent story. Go read it now! Merged review: I can’t tell you how fast I jumped on the chance to read this ARC. Thank you to Phil Williams for the ecopy! ** So, wow what a book However Many Must Die was! I don’t know what it is I love so much about Phil’s women characters, but Wild Wish has to be my newest favourite. Wish is part of an all women troop of soldiers called the Blood Scouts. When information suggests that the other side is experimenting- making a new weapon that could turn the war in their favour and kill hundred of thousands in the process, she is hastily promoted and tasked with leading the Boot scouts on a mission that sends them deep into enemy territory. Wish hasn’t been part of the scouts long but during wartime you learn fast, and get promoted quickly. Characters Most of the story in However Many Must Die is brought to us through either Wild Wish- an officer in the Stanclif army, and Constans Marringdale- a Purification officer in Drail Empire. Between the two we get a good look at the world at large, cultures/beliefs and some of the politics. Epigraphs do a bit of the heavy-lifting here as well filling in the minute details of history, miliary, and the war. Wild Wish is probably the first character I’ve read that I felt really grew into their name. The other women all had military nicknames that you knew right-off why they were earned, but Wish’s name- while still obvious- became her as the story progressed. Wish seems meek at first and maybe even a bit naïve or just young. She’s overwhelmed with it all- what’s she’s doing, the losses of her friends etc. but she has this underlying steel that makes her a survivor and you can’t help but love her and hope she gets to go home to her farm, and live out her life near her friends. I think the fact that she wasn’t one of those brash women you sometimes see, especially in UF, is what appealed to me the most. Maringdale on the other hand, is tough as nails. Cold and determined, she will do what she feels needs to be done for the Drail empire to succeed. Maringdale is a Witlacer- a type of magic user- her gift is kind of like a truth detector/intentions finder which she uses like a drug dog sniffing out spies and other threats. The Drail Empire has no room for women in its army or any position of importance for that matter, so she has to be extra ruthless to be taken seriously. (This is something the Stanclif are no better about but they at least have more will to make concessions by allowing women in their army- even if they sure don’t value them like they do their men.) ** The Blood Scouts’ Boot squad is large and in a lot of way are like a big found family (which is probably why I loved them). Some of the characters move in and out of focus but it never feels like too much at once, or even too small. The size gives room to move them around or to lose people and let me tell you- no one is safe here. It’s a war zone and we never are allowed to forget just how dangerous it is, or that it isn’t always the enemy that gets you- sometimes it’s the terrain or creatures. There’s an art to handling a large group of characters, especially in a battle without getting whiplash and this is it. Occasionally we have accounts of the Blood scouts, as scarily ruthless women from soldiers on the other side of the war…which they are, but because we spend so much time with them, to us, these same deadly soldiers just feel like young women trying to survive and not lose anymore of the friends they have made along the way. Magic There are two types of magic- Witlacing and Dirtminding. I like how simple the magic is to understand while still encompassing every thing from the physical- moving earth or objects, to the intangible- influencing the mind etc. Also there are heavy consequences for its use- the toll on their bodies or minds are unmistakeable. World There is a fair bit of travel so we get an idea of the landscape and I really enjoyed these parts. It never felt boring. The downtime gave us some nice moments with our characters and the travel time gave us some really fun things along the way. Every time they’re passing through a new part of the world, I’d think it can’t get any cooler than this! I loved the scenes approaching the Horns of Heaven and that whole sequence working through the caves. I loved the movie Shooter (I should probably get around to that book series someday) which might be why some of my favourite ‘military’ parts of the story were the sniper scenes. There was a great sequence where they’re moving in on some Drail bunkers, that really brought the sniper work to life. You wouldn’t think something like long distance shooting could be so tense but somehow the combination of that and the moving soldiers up the ridge, just had me on the edge of my seat. Other Notes- I did find However Many Must Die took me a bit to settle in. I couldn’t decide whether it was intentional because Wish is also settling-in and feeling a little out-of-depth with all that’s going on around her or if it was just that typical, new series finding my feet in the world and its terms, settling in. Once I was settled in- I couldn't put it down. Tldr: Loved this one. Excellent story. Go read it now! ...more |
Notes are private!
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2
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Sep 22, 2023
not set
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Nov 2023
not set
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Sep 20, 2024
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Kindle Edition
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| B0896XKZQ2
| 4.20
| 247
| May 25, 2020
| May 25, 2020
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really liked it
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I won a copy of Kings and Daemons so long ago now, that I can’t even remember where, but I’d like to send out a huge thanks to the author Marcus Lee (
I won a copy of Kings and Daemons so long ago now, that I can’t even remember where, but I’d like to send out a huge thanks to the author Marcus Lee (and whoever hosted the contest) for the copy. **** 3.5 rounded up Kings and Daemonsgives off some seriously fun, classic feeling fantasy vibes. If you know me, I am a fan of all the tropes so I was ready for something familiar to relax into and just enjoy the ride. * Kings and Daemons featured a world where the land of the Ember Kingdom is dying- it’s life force, slowly being drained form every living thing- from the land to the people themselves to feed the Witch King Daleth. Because Daleth’s source of life and power is slowly draining away, he is now looking towards other the kingdoms to conquer and move into to replenish that vitality. There were a lot of really cool things in this world- between its creatures and its magic, but the one thing I really thought was a neat touch was how the dying of the land, also meant that people’s values and morals were dying with it. This loss of hope and beauty and their livelihood pushes everyone into survival-mode with the atmosphere around them affecting who they were and how they treat others. * Maya is a healer- she has long hidden her gift and her health in fear of being arrested for magic use. She has lived a lonely life away from the village, foraging as much as possible afraid of her secret being discovered. Taran was banned from his village after turning on his father in his grief over his mother’s death. Taran has the gift of being able to read intentions/thoughts. His gift has helped to keep him alive as a youngster with an abusive parent, and as an adult drifting from place to place. There are a quite a few notable characters outside of Maya and Taran, that round out the world. I particularly liked Rakan, who despite being a man who has done some nasty stuff, we begin to see the influence of Maya’s gift and the change it brings to him- healing the poison in his soul and body that the environment has helped to create. I liked how we could see the changes in him that being with good people brought on. And of course, I can’t not mention the witch king, Daleth. Daleth is one of those villains I love to hate and it just makes for an entertaining time for me when I can root for the bad guy to fall into a well on a deserted island and die a slow agonising death… not to sound incredibly bloodthirsty or anything, but he is just such an awful person and I loved every second of wishing for him to get his due. * The overall tone in Kings and Daemons made it a fun classic fantasy, good for teen+ to adults. I found for the most part it didn’t take itself too seriously even when faced with unbeatable odds and some darker themes, there was time to make a few jokes to lighten-up the mood Considering some of the events like people being sucked dry or having beings in your head taking control- this could have gotten seriously dark, real fast, but the story leans towards the noble-bright with the feeling that things will work out but not before we see our heroes put through the ringer. Other notes- A fun touch for me, was the trail that Maya leaves because of her ability. I had this mental image of her progression on a map- highlighted with a big green highlighter. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Nov 14, 2023
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Feb 09, 2024
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Nov 14, 2023
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Kindle Edition
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| 9798378585939
| B0C7JJB79P
| 3.71
| 287
| Feb 20, 2020
| Jun 09, 2023
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really liked it
| I read this for SPFBO. My review only. More about the contest and links at the bottom. I went into this story with some trepidation. Between the very l I read this for SPFBO. My review only. More about the contest and links at the bottom. I went into this story with some trepidation. Between the very little I’ve read from Snyder- Hell, I’m still recovering from that scene with the umbrella thingy in Norylska Groans (co-authored with Michael Fletcher) and just from buzz around this book; I knew to expect some dark stuff. That said, I honestly didn’t find this that dark. Bleak, yes, and definitely violent. But no more so than some of the tv. I watch. And really, not much else could beat that scene in NG for dark stuff that sticks with a person, let me tell you. Cold West is kind of a reverse story- instead of the typical, how a man is saved by love- its more an exploration in how his loss of it, sends him spiralling back down a path he had previously clawed his way out from.Wil Cutter, the mpov, is a survivor. A real SOB that does more and more despicable things as the story progresses and he spirals down, and let’s just say my sympathy and understanding didn’t carry through my willingness to forgive Wil some of his choices, despite the grief fueling them for very long. * As a story, on the whole the writing is solid. I tend to like fewer words saying what should be said and Cold West was mostly stark short sentences especially in beginning, which suited the harsh landscape and even harsher story. The structure? The unfolding exploration? Or whatever you want to call it- had a couple of things that didn’t work for me. For one, the pace was brisk but would stop for what felt like inconsequential things- like a long story from some guy about his time during the war. Or the reading of a chapter of a book. The chapter reading was especially odd to me. The old soldiers’ story at least worked for world-building but the chapter was like a couple pages worth of the story she was reading to him- and maybe I was just being super dense here and missed the whole point which is totally possible- but I think I would have preferred warm observations of her, while she read the book, to the actual excerpt from the book. That’s just me and way too many romances, no doubt. Anyway, personal preferences aside, as an exploration of a man falling further and further away from the person, that people who loved him and helped him to become- I thought Cold West for the most part did a fine job of displaying that side of Wil. This is the one thing I have enjoyed about the two books I’ve read by Clayton- his ability and willingness to pull back those many layers that make up a person at their lowest and their worst, and show them to the world. Cold West may be short and the plot fairly simple but it’s the exploration of Cutter’s grief that fills out the story and packs the punch to the gut. Other notes- I enjoyed the scenes in the Rift, probably the most, just because I enjoy the ingenuity involved in getting out of a place like that… I mean really, who doesn’t love prison breakouts like Cool Hand Luke, The Rock, or Shawshank. I could have read a lot more of Wil’s time there. *Again, I feel I must say that I making an attempt at being funny with that reference to NG and not trying to pick on the author, who’s hilariously dark humour on twitter makes me feel he would take it with the humour it’s meant- if he actually reads his books reviews. spfbo score 7- or 4 stars Learn more about the contest here: https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/... Finalist board is here: https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/... ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Nov 02, 2023
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Nov 08, 2023
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Oct 27, 2023
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Paperback
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| 1952868181
| 9781952868184
| B0BNQRMZ7T
| 4.26
| 1,245
| Dec 02, 2022
| Dec 27, 2022
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really liked it
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I read this for SPFBO. My review only. More about the contest and links at the bottom. I’ve been wanting to read this book for ages. A lot of that wa I read this for SPFBO. My review only. More about the contest and links at the bottom. I’ve been wanting to read this book for ages. A lot of that want was to do with the very pretty cover (which looks nice on my app btw) and the whole thing sounded right up my alley. I dig classic fantasy. Its such a comfort thing for me and I’ve always been a fan of Ranger characters. I can’t lie- it’s the bow and arrows…. I guess I can thank Robin Hood, Hawkeye, and every Elven character ever for my love of archery in fantasy. Anyway... I enjoyed what Rosell did with the main character Leiyn. It was good to have a lead character that had lots of great attributes – she loyal to her people, and her friends, funny etc while still having a big flaw in her character, even if did at times, make her a little unlikeable when we saw that side of her shine through. Leiyn’s biggest flaw is that really dislikes the Gast people, and I mean with a passion that is nearly blinding to her common sense. What I liked most though is seeing her growth over the course of the story and her even realizing at times she may be biased as all hell, but still not being able to help herself from feeling that way. Also, I loved her coming in to her own with her magic and how her acceptance of the Gasts, also meant accepting the part of herself that could use their magic. There’s a lot of stuff that I wanted to bring up about her father and their relationship but we are getting into spoiler territory there so I’ll just say I appreciated the love he had shown his daughter, while still being totally wrong in his thinking. So much of the time the circumstances here, would have led to this being a neglect situation. (Hopefully that made sense while still being totally vague.) I think The Last Ranger would be a great intro into the genre, just because the overall tone and its world full of cool creatures, feels very classic and would be great for a wide range of ages- teen to adult. I would have eaten this book up with a spoon if I’d found it as a teen. spfbo score 7.5 or 4 stars Learn more about the contest here: https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/... Finalist board is here: https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/... ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Feb 2024
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Mar 11, 2024
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Oct 03, 2023
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Kindle Edition
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| 9780473614898
| B09Q8WDH98
| 3.90
| 162
| unknown
| Mar 04, 2022
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really liked it
| I read this for SPFBO. To find out more about the SPFBO contest and to see the participating bloggers/authors and reviews follow the links below This I read this for SPFBO. To find out more about the SPFBO contest and to see the participating bloggers/authors and reviews follow the links below This was my second book based on Slavic myth that I’ve read recently and the cool thing about it is the tone, story, and lore could not have felt any more different from Noble’s Dagger in the Winds (my previous read). I wasn’t sure about this one at first. It felt like it was going to be young, and it’s rare I read stories where the characters are all non-humans. It just isn’t something I lean towards. But this story has a nice style to the narrative, and grew as it went in a true coming-of-age kind of feel. Daughter of the Beast is told in six stitches- which is a neat way of presenting it in parts while staying true to the lore. Each stitch shows us the important times of Zyntael’s life- from her capture and learning to survive in her new surroundings- to her growth into a young warrior and acceptance of her new life while finding a place for herself among the Vulkar. Because Daughter of the Beast is told through Zyntael’s pov a lot of the world building, at first, is through conversation with the people around her. I enjoyed this way of world building; it gave it a bit of a slice of life feel- which suited it very well. It was light and it also helped that Zyntael has a great voice! She’s plucky, curious, and funny and I just enjoyed her at all times. For that reason, I felt this read very quickly with just a few up and down moments in pacing- which probably were mostly scenes I wasn’t as interested in. I also enjoyed that instead of growing up and wanting revenge on her captors it became a story of acceptance-of finding your place, a new life and friends, family etc. Sometimes it’s just nice to see a character with a great outlook learning to roll with what life throws at them. Daughter of the Beast was a great little feel-good story. I enjoyed this one a lot. spfbo score 8 0r 4 stars Learn more about the contest here- https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/... Finalist board is here https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/... ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Oct 08, 2023
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Nov 2023
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Sep 27, 2023
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Kindle Edition
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| 3200086734
| 9783200086739
| 3.75
| 829
| Feb 01, 2023
| Feb 01, 2023
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liked it
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I read this for SPFBO. To find out more about the SPFBO contest and to see the participating bloggers/authors and reviews follow the links below I en I read this for SPFBO. To find out more about the SPFBO contest and to see the participating bloggers/authors and reviews follow the links below I ended up having mixed-up feelings about The Eleventh Cycle and because of that this review has been the bane of my existence. At one point it was four pages long and nobody wants to read all that. There was just so much to tackle between its characters, and just the overall vast feel of the world itself that squishing my many varied thoughts about it all, down to a few paragraphs means this is going to be a jumbled mess. Apologies in advance. **** World The Eleventh Cycles’ world of Minethria is unique- it’s dark and strange, and steeped in history. We begin with a Seed being born to the Elder Kings at Mt Morniar. An event that occurs only once in every thousand years… and right away you know this story is going to be something different. If you are a reader who likes in-depth worlds that feel ancient, and massive- this is your dream book. Its world is brimming with life. There’s a multitude of races. Some are at war with others, and not all of our pov’s are even fully human. It’s like a mixed-bag of every human leaning race and fantasy creature of lore or d&d that you could possibly imagine. There are epigraphs which help with the history lessons, and little tidbits that shape out the world. I am a major fan of the usefulness of epigraphs for taking some of the pain out of info-dumps in the main body of the story. They helped to some degree here, but they didn’t quite take all that world-building pain away, unfortunately. After awhile it seemed like every cool thing the author could think of was included, and the world kept getting bigger, darker, and weirder, all at once. Storytelling and characters. I enjoyed all four of the main pov’s (not so much the 5th pov. The Seed -who for awhile is just rounding out our view of the world and moves in to the forefront later). They each had their own struggles with events- some quite horrific- that changed their lives. This is a grim setting and Ardalan, puts the characters through the ringer. Sometimes knocking them back down almost as soon as they crawl back to their feet. These characters aren’t the type to lay down and die either. Which I liked. I prefer a certain hopeful tone in my grimdark: at the very least a need for them to overcome the obstacles that life has brought. I did find enough of that fight in them, to hold a balance that would keep me reading. I’d like to say, I’m not exactly sure where or why this story went off the rails for me, because I was absorbed in the characters and where they would end up. But I know a big part of my drop in interest had to do with the story shift in the back third. Until then, I was enamoured with the characters; they had trials, they had growth, they and the people around them, were fascinating. I wanted to know about their lives. But in the back third I found I was losing interest and I don’t want to say this story should have been bigger because… good grief, but maybe more focussed to the characters who are most affected? Because they seemed to stall-out after they reached a certain point of establishment. There was a gap in life events. We went from experiencing events, to events being told to us. So, when key points that had up to this point been somewhat glossed-over in the background, were moved forward to trigger the turning points for the characters- they fell a little flat. If that makes sense. Dalila and Yasmin are a great example- though we meet Yasmin early on and the two interact, their friendship- after it begins, moves almost entirely to the background to us being told they hung out together. Which took some of the punch out of the later events with Dalila, and with it her follow-up choices. * This was an ambitious story and I think it will hit everyone a little different depending on their tastes. I adored the characters (though I thought we could easily drop a couple) but I found the world-building as cool as it was- over full, with lots of unneeded information. I had so many notes trying to keep it all straight and I probably referred back to them for only a couple of things at most and the rest fell aside under the label of didn't add much we needed to know, but it was a neat idea. TLDR: The Eleventh Cycle was the Frankenstein’s monster of everything you can think of in fantasy, sewn together into something that somehow mostly works- despite the need for a good strong edit. And maybe the lightning that brings this world alive was that Kian’s characters were just so darned fascinating. They kept me turning page after page, curious about them and curious to see how they would all fit together. Other notes- ----Mind the spoilers ahead----- * * * * The story takes a pretty brutal turn, especially for the one character. I’ll be as vague here as I possibly can. So, this character fought tooth and nail, to came back from a horrific loss, only to be put back to square one (and then some) just as she is somewhat recovered. But to also have the SA on top of the rest, just felt like it pushed things a bit over the edge. If we are looking for an exploration of loss of a person’s power (and she was a very strong courageous woman who didn’t need others to fight her battles) then, to me, it seemed she had lost that already. But I’m not the author, so that’s all I have to say about that. spfbo score-6 Learn more about the contest here- https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/... Phase one is here- https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/... ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Sep 14, 2023
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Oct 18, 2023
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Sep 11, 2023
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Kindle Edition
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| 1733946667
| 9781733946667
| B09HW7Q259
| 4.14
| 7
| unknown
| Oct 05, 2021
|
really liked it
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I read this for SPFBO. To find out more about the SPFBO contest and to see the participating bloggers/authors and reviews follow the links below I di I read this for SPFBO. To find out more about the SPFBO contest and to see the participating bloggers/authors and reviews follow the links below I didn’t know what to expect from this one and was pleasantly surprised because I ended up enjoying this story quite a lot. The story runs dual timelines, alternating between past and present and building to a finale. I was reminded a little of Hardies’ Quiet Vengeance, which told its story of revenge in a similar way. But that about where that similarity ends. In Deceit we have just the one pov. character in Mace and explore his story. Mace: An Ex Houseman, this can mean multiple things depending on which House he is in but mostly it means he’s a hired fighter mercenary type. The Houses- if I remember right there were five- educate and train kids in various styles of fighting. When they are old enough, they’re hired-out through the house until the debt of their “better life” is paid in full. (I couldn’t help but think that the Houses were the equivalent of Pimps… lol. I may need to cut back on all those cop shows.) Mace, has been living abroad for the last ten years for reasons that I will leave for you to discover and is now able to return and seek his revenge on the man who took everything from him. The present chapters work toward that goal, as Mace, through a bit of chance and happenstance, takes on a new patron in Miss Irion. His job protecting her and getting her harvest of Mina Pods to the city safely, will allow him that opportunity to get closer and possibly confront his nemesis, Fallon. Every chapter of the future builds into a mystery that somewhat plays off the past. The past chapters let us understand Mace’s early life- where he was sold as a boy to apprentice in one of the houses, working its way up to the reasons behind his exile and finally- his need for revenge. Every chapter in the past was like watching a train-wreck happen in slow motion. Seriously, in my notes for him I wrote, “Dammit! Why does his every decision make me dread finishing the chapter?” It’s the choices he makes in his youth, that domino-effect in the worst way… like this guy needs a rabbit’s foot or something to counter his horrible luck and bad decisions. To be fair, some of those decisions were out of love, and those are the ones that never turn out well for anyone. And others were the unavoidable, or the better of the worst choices. But all of them come back to haunt him at some point. Both timelines had me turning the pages pretty quickly, between the mystery building in the present timeline, and the wondering how the past timeline is going to catch up to the future- I was totally engrossed. ** Deceit leans towards low fantasy. There wasn’t a lot of obvious magic. Though there are mentions of dragons, and other animals that seem to be some sort of science experiments- for the most part magic is pretty light- in this book anyway. Towards the end, there are some interesting reveals that might mean heavier magic use later. A couple of small things- The aftermath of the duels, land in successive chapters, and I was totally confused on which aftermath I was reading for about 3/4 of the chapter, even though I was used to the back-and-forth pattern by that point, it still caught-me-up until “exile ten years” was brought up. The end got a little “tell heavy” with the explanations and some of the reveals- which also open-up the world a bit to make room for a sequel. I thought the clues could have been better telegraphed but to be fair here, I was way more interested in Mace, and everything to do with his life and what would happen next, to really care about the smaller mystery. The bigger reveal on the other hand, was less satisfactory to me, just because of what Mace went through to get to that point. In either case- the whole story was just great though slightly more tragic than I had hoped for the future (the past being tragic was a given). SPFBO score 7 or 4 stars Learn more about the contest here- https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/... Phase one is here- https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/... ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Aug 28, 2023
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Oct 18, 2023
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Aug 28, 2023
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Kindle Edition
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| 1951607031
| 9781951607036
| 1951607031
| 4.14
| 1,779
| Feb 20, 2020
| Feb 2020
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really liked it
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I read and loved the first book in this series (Reign and Ruin) for spfbo, it’s such a neat world and the characters were great. Storm and Shield read
I read and loved the first book in this series (Reign and Ruin) for spfbo, it’s such a neat world and the characters were great. Storm and Shield reads a bit more to the romancy-side than Reign and Ruin did to me, but that’s probably because a lot of the world building is out of the way now, and we can concentrate on characters. So, if you’re reading this book, you know the Naime’s goal of returning balance to their countries using the Charra’s (the strongest of the mages) to stand the wheel and I will skip the recap. * Aysel, our main lady is a first house Air mage from Sarkam. Like Makram (from the first book) she has always had to hide her magic or play down her strengths because of their country’s hatred toward mages. Her family is trained as spies and have come as refugees to Sarkhan since their support of Makhram has forced them from their country. (If I remembering right, we met her in first book when Naime and Makram stayed with her family) Commander Bashir - our male lead, is strong in the earth magic. He is a trusted, unshakeable leader- or at least he unshakeable until Aysel came and shook his foundations to the core. The beginning between these two are rocky- between misunderstandings, and the fact that she gets under his skin every time they meet, he feels like he is being tricked by her constantly. And because of his high-ranking position- the mixed-up emotions he has where she is concerned have made it so he can’t even allow himself to trust her as much as his heart wants to. I did enjoy this couple- they have a really fun first meeting between them when she steals her weapons back and he happens to be there, and there were lots of great moments in between, but they didn’t click with me quite as much as Naime and Makram did, for whatever reason. But that’s how it goes sometimes…some couple click more with certain people. The important thing is that there is still enough of everything going on here, that I would continue the series in a heartbeat. The writing is great, the world, and all the ideas behind it are really neat. And I enjoy the characters. I do think my favourite this time around (outside of the main two) had to be Aysel’s brother, Mathei. He’s a smart-alec (had to change that to not upset the amazon censors) and I love that Chandler kind of personality, and he and Aysel’s relationship was filled with obvious sibling affection. * The magic in this series is so cool and still one of my favourite parts of this story. As an air mage she can do things like hide herself from others (from memory and notice) and use the wind in a variety of ways in battle and he as an earth mage can move the ground. Bring it up like a wall sink it etc. The battle scenes between these two were incredibly fun and creative with the many uses of their magic. There were enough little tidbits about the surrounding countries- like the blight that is affecting the vegetation etc to make me want to come back and see how these little mysterious unfold. And of course, to see our next Charra added to the Wheel. This series is shaping up to be something great and I am really looking forward to continuing. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Aug 16, 2023
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Aug 30, 2023
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Aug 16, 2023
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ebook
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| B0928CQR8W
| 4.19
| 139
| Jun 15, 2021
| Jun 15, 2021
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really liked it
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I read this for SPFBO. My review only. More about the contest and links at the bottom. Well I wasn’t too surprised to see Dagger in the Winds make it t I read this for SPFBO. My review only. More about the contest and links at the bottom. Well I wasn’t too surprised to see Dagger in the Winds make it to semi-round within our group because Bjorn has been going on and on about how good the lore was for weeks. * I really liked this cover. Very nice colours and art that lends to the idea this story is going to be YA/NA which to me was pretty spot on. This definitely is a coming-of-age tale, with everything that term implies- from falling in love, to learning to move on from the past, to stepping up and doing what’s right- even when it isn’t the easiest choice. And it’s all wrapped up in some seriously cool Slavic lore. I know so little about Slavic lore and Dagger in the Wind’s story and characters are heavily entwined in their beliefs and traditions, so for me, there was a learning curve in getting a feel for the world, the names etc, and especially knowing which Gods matter enough to remember. I generally take character notes until I reach that point because I don’t know who I will need to remember for later. It can be tiring and slow going for the first little while. Also, because I use my notepad feature on my phone, times like this is when I want to scream in frustration as it auto-corrects everything. Anyway… Waclaw- is a Frostmarked. His dad is the chief of their tribe, and there were already hard feelings towards one another, so being Frostmarked (which is something his people and their beliefs means he is considered to be a demon) is not going to make that relationship any easier. Otylia- is a Szeptucha, considered a witch by their people. She follows Dziwanna the goddess of the wilds. The story is told in three parts and I’m not going to go into details on characters and plot points because as I said, there is too much lore entwined with their stories, and it would be far easier and take less time for you to just go read the book. Part one- sees the two characters growing into their roles /being chosen and given tasks by their Goddesses, meanwhile a threat is rising in the east. Once I settled into the story, I really enjoyed getting to know the characters and the surroundings, their rituals and lifestyle. I did feel the beginning was a bit dense at times, with a lot of names being thrown around- partly characters, partly goddesses, and partly in-world terms, but it does settle. Part two- the journey east to meet with tribes. As fun as it was to get on the road, the middle drug a little for me, despite all the action. It became repetitive with the same arguments between the group members. And the story falls into this pattern of fight, someone nearly dies and is saved by other, heal and h/c (hurt/comfort). If you’re into the h/c, this story is for you because it has it in spades throughout all three parts as Waclaw and Otylia, grow closer and face different problems or battles together. We also learn some interesting history of the Gods, and Marzanna the Goddess of Winter and Death, gives Waclaw a choice that will have repercussions. Part three- In the mangled woods for final showdown where Waclaw has to enter the Lake of Reflection and find the Heart of its power. This was very cool and leads up to an action-packed finale and a quite unexpected turn of events that I won’t go into for the obvious spoilery reasons. * There were things that made the story special, and things that drug it down just teensy bit: The battles were fun, though occasionally began to feel like filler in the middle, esp. but the end brings us a nice big lightning-powered finale and an event that I didn’t expect. The characters for the most part, I liked, though some of the peripheral characters seemed to be there just to beak-off and cause problems, and didn’t have much in the way of growth. A good strong edit would help thin down some of those repetitive/filler scenes and arguments. They kept the story from moving too quickly but didn’t add much either. On the whole- I enjoyed the story once I got into it. It has the feel of a fairytale between the magic and the goddesses/gods being so involved and a part of their lives and beliefs. I don’t know where original tales and the authors imagination begin and end, but I loved the lore, and liked how it was used to tell Waclaw and Otylia’s stories. SPFBO score-6.5 or 4 stars ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Aug 21, 2023
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Oct 18, 2023
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Aug 16, 2023
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Kindle Edition
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| 1738841901
| 9781738841905
| B0BWWZGWFF
| 4.17
| 12
| unknown
| Feb 25, 2023
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really liked it
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I read this for SPFBO. To find out more about the SPFBO contest and to see the participating bloggers/authors and reviews follow the links below I wa I read this for SPFBO. To find out more about the SPFBO contest and to see the participating bloggers/authors and reviews follow the links below I was thrilled when Olivia picked this as her semi. I had been eying this one up since it landed in our group. I really enjoyed Scarlet and Sunder. I had a few minor ticks with it, but overall, I found it to be nicely written with great relationships and fun battles. This is a chunky book and I smashed through the first half in no time at all. It felt slower to me in the last couple of parts (there are five) I think for a couple of reasons- first there’s a feel of repetition- not so much with events as it was with the themes- especially with Maia. She is one of those characters that hates herself and routinely does irritating things to prove just how much she does. And second there is a lot in the last two parts of the story – between info, twisty events, relationships and everything in between, the author went mech-size (har har) with the finale and threw everything in the pot and gave it a big stir. It was fun, don’t get me wrong, but I did have a bit of fatigue with it all and I went from plowing through chapters upon chapters, to just a couple at a time as I was trying to absorb everything I was learning. * I won’t get into the plot- there is just a lot to tackle with that and I am trying to curb my wordiness. Instead I will talk about the biggest highlight (for me anyway) which surprisingly I found was Maia and Ren’s relationship. I say surprisingly because I expected to be here for the Pacific Rim-Godzilla styled fights, because who wouldn’t? But it was actually Maia and Ren, who kept me coming back for more. I absolutely adored them (especially Ren). Not only because of the mentor/student angle which btw I can probably count on both hands how often I have had a female mentor relationship in a story (I’d like to think this is more to do with the way my tastes tend to run, rather than the fact that they are just that few and far between). But I also I adored them for other reasons. Like the fact that they get mad, they blow up at each other, then they come back and talk it through. Or that Ren felt like a young adult who is coming to terms with growing-up and realizing everything she thought she knew about the world around her- was a little one-sided. Or that Ren always tried to move forward and not allow herself to be a victim of circumstances, or of the world around. And maybe that last part, is a bit of her youth shining through and her not being so beaten down by the world like Maia is, but I did appreciate how she counter-balanced Maia in that regard. Ren was one of the best young adult characters I have read in a while. Maia, I liked, but I did I have a harder time loving her. Getting her type of character from point A- someone who just lets people shoot her, to point B- a person of worth, who doesn’t deserve the blame she (or the world) has placed upon herself- is a tightrope walk. I think for the most part- that walk went well but teetered off here and there. I find the victim/self-sacrificing characters very frustrating at the best of times so ymmv on that point. * The battles were fun. I loved the naming of the monsters which worked for lightening the mood, and for taking repetition out of the fights. They’re well thought-out and were easy to visualize- I did grow-up on Godzilla and have seen nearly all the giant avatar driven robot movies so I have tons of footage in my head to base my totally amateur opinion on. ...more |
Notes are private!
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2
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Sep 08, 2023
Aug 2023
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Oct 18, 2023
Sep 08, 2023
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Jun 26, 2023
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Kindle Edition
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| 0316493007
| 9780316493000
| 0316493007
| 3.92
| 2,255
| Jan 23, 2021
| Jun 13, 2023
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it was amazing
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Huge thanks go out to Alexander Darwin and Orbit for the ARC! *** This was such a fun book and I was very excited to get the opportunity to revisit the Huge thanks go out to Alexander Darwin and Orbit for the ARC! *** This was such a fun book and I was very excited to get the opportunity to revisit the world and characters! This book surprised me. Don’t get me wrong, I did expect to enjoy it- underdog claws his way out of the slave pits to make it into combat school- it’s right up my alley (other than the school part). And I expected good fights, but what I didn’t expect was for the story to have so much heart (or to enjoy the school parts). A lot of times with fight books or movies, the story is just a vehicle to showcase the fights themselves, and the characters and the plot get sacrificed along the way. But that is not the case here. The characters – there are quite a few that were notable but I’m touching on just a few. Cego – a young boy who is fighting in the slave pits. He is scouted by Murray and is brought to train at Lyceum- a prestigious combat school. Murray is a retired Grievar Knight. (Grievar Knights are the fighters who represent each country- they’re kind of like a courtroom proceeding with lawyers, judge and jury but instead of a court with lawyers disputing a case, we have Grievars fighting in a ring.) His character is that good-hearted but cranky, can’t quite move on from “the good old days” to embrace the future or leave his own bucketful of regrets behind kind of guy. (He kind of reminded me of Clint Eastwood character in Gran Torino.) Now that Murray has retired, he scouts for potential kids to train. Murray sees something special in Cego- the values, and an adherence to the Codes that most are turning away from, but that Murray himself to this day stands behind. He believes corruption of the system and the use of enhancements etc. is taking away the ideas and honor, that the system was built upon in the first place and that more of that foundation of values is lost with every new generation of fighters. I couldn't help but love Murray- faults and all, but it’s Cego and his time with the whelp-pack that I enjoyed the most. The kids are that group of friends that you hope to be lucky enough to have in your life. You want Cego, and his friends to succeed. I love that they have became this found family, supportive of each other and that through hard work and good attitudes they are overcoming the obstacles that are thrown in their path. Honestly, I just love the whole underlying message, that life sucks but you can rise above it with a little effort on your own part, and sometimes with the help of friends. Magic, tech, and in-world stuff: The circles where the Grievars fight, are a colour-based magic that influences the fighters in ways that could affect their fight, mentally or even physically (I thought of this like status affects in a rpg game). Some fighters have tattoos that do this kind of magical flux, where they change as the fighter grows in skill. The fights are great and not over-done, we don’t see every move broken down to the minute detail but we do get enough to understand what’s going on, even if you don’t know the first thing about fighting. I liked that they weren’t too technical but still have all the fun and feel of a good UFC style ring/octagon fight. There is also lots of techy stuff in the world- advanced healing care, food blocks, and even an alien race (which made me think of the aliens in Mars Attacks for some reason) called the Daimyos. Technically superior, the Daimyos helped with the upgrades to the greivar rings and the enhancements that keep the fighter’s strong and healthy before and after a fight. We are seeing a lot more of Murray in this new edition and exploring him and his loyalties to the Grievars and their Codes, also gains us some needed understanding of the Daimyo’s and their tech, the politics around the Grievar’s system of justice, and of the world itself that they helped to put in place. ** This felt very much like a can of worms was opened by the end of this book. In a good way. The story feels complete but opens up the world, and gives us some big reasons to want to return. In conclusion the TLDR: Filled with great fights, great friendships, and a story full of heart. I really enjoyed this one and plan to read the second book. other notes- This review is an updated remix of my original review to encompass the changes to the newly released The Combat Codes. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jun 04, 2023
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Jun 05, 2023
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Jun 04, 2023
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Paperback
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| 4.71
| 14
| unknown
| Mar 15, 2022
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really liked it
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I read this for SPFBO. To find out more about the SPFBO contest and to see the participating bloggers/authors and reviews follow the links below ** W I read this for SPFBO. To find out more about the SPFBO contest and to see the participating bloggers/authors and reviews follow the links below ** Wilder Williams is pulled into the world of Hiraeth, where he discovers he is part of a prophecy that will save the land from Abaddon- whose return is imminent. It’s been a while since I’ve read a good old-fashioned portal fantasy. This one had some neat elements because there wasn’t just “our world” where Wilder grew up, but also other worlds- including Abaddon’s (whose world is much more advanced than Hiraeth). The Return of Abaddon did start a little rough for me. There’s quite a lot to set in place - people, places, and events- including a history of Abaddon’s previous foiled attempt to conquer Hiraeth, along with the events that trigger the prophecy and Wilder’s arrival. These events moving very quickly. I think this was mostly to get everything set-up so we could get to the meat of the story but it did result in a lot of information to absorb in the beginning. It probably felt like more too because of getting Abaddon’s pov. the filling in the blank’s kind of stuff that you’d usually get, is more in-depth through his eyes. I did like getting to see him setting things into motion but I think it needed more balance. The story strengthens once we get that groundwork out of the way, and as we meet new characters and learn about the world and its magic- things become a lot more interesting. Especially once they start experimenting with their magic and the varying ways that it can be used apart and jointly. There were some creative and cool uses of their gifts not only for defeating the bad guys but also for problem solving their way out of trouble... I really enjoyed those parts. While I liked all the characters, I found the most interesting character to be Prince Xane. His family swore fealty to Abaddon some generations back. Xane is caught between having to honor that oath, while trying to find a way to foil his plans and kill Abaddon once and for all. I like a character that keeps me curious and a lot of that attraction to his character for me, was because he declares his intentions to rid the world of Abaddon at such a young age (11 when we meet him) leaving me wondering will he follow through, or would the death of his father and his early rise to the crown change his intentions? There are a lot of years between that young boy and the adulthood to find he enjoys the rewards of having power over people, more than the rewards of justice for them. Also, Abaddon is not an easy guy to fool and wondering how will Xane keep this desire out of his head and heart, in his presence was always at the top of my mind. I could have easily read a lot more about this whole storyline. There are a ton of cool magical gadgets and abilities that just made everything- especially the battles, a lot of fun. The story has plenty of friendships and the characters have a bit of that noblebright slant, either that, or I read too much grimdark because everyone just felt so nice and civilised- even the bad guys. The story answers a few questions before the end, but this is definitely a stepping off place for a series. Learn more about the contest here- https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/... ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jun 26, 2023
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Jul 25, 2023
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May 19, 2023
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Kindle Edition
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| 0645403016
| 9780645403015
| B09TD86BQ9
| 3.90
| 279
| May 05, 2022
| May 05, 2022
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really liked it
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I read this for SPFBO. To find out more about the SPFBO contest and to see the participating bloggers/authors and reviews follow the links below This I read this for SPFBO. To find out more about the SPFBO contest and to see the participating bloggers/authors and reviews follow the links below This is a hard one to summarize briefly because it’s a world that grows (along with the political intrigue, and the personal relationships) as the story goes. Ash has been hiding her ability to use fire magic for years, it’s difficult because she is unable to really control it and in one of these episodes she is found-out and imprisoned. Fire magic is rare and a death sentence, thanks to a Rift full of monsters being created with its use by another fire user Faleria, years before. The discovery of Ash’s magic creates a unique opportunity for the powers in charge- turning Ash into a potential pawn in a high-stakes game that everyone wants to have in their corner. Ash is just one of the pov’s that are entangled in the goings on between the two countries, and also between the Fae. It’s quite a huge world and we are getting to see all sides of it through multiple people. * Shadow of Fire isn’t very long in the scheme of fantasy- around 380 pages but at times it felt longer. The first and biggest reason for me, was likely because of the huge amount of pov’s and getting to know each of them, their part of the world and how they relate to others etc. I found myself not really settling into the story (and not having to refer back to my notes to remind myself who a person was) until a good halfway through or so. The second is more a personal taste, and that was just that there were too many descriptions and unnecessary scene settings. I do love a beautiful scene and getting to know a character through their enjoyment of the setting, but too many and I start skimming chunks. If anything, I felt that a little clean-up with fewer pov’s and fewer descriptions, would focus the story and let the great characters and the writing shine. Small complaints aside. I had a great time with this book and I think Shadow of Fire will appeal to a lot of people. Especially if they're like me and love stories filled with political intrigue, scheming bad guys, magic, romance and danger. I really enjoyed this world (I am sure everyone knows by now my love of the Fae settings) and its characters- once I got to know them- especially Laili and Thalion’s enemies to lovers’ romance which is one of my favourite romance tropes. Shadow of Fire definitely has a first book jumping off place feel to it and the way things were shaping-up it looks to be a really fun series. Learn more about the contest here- https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/... ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jun 26, 2023
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Jul 25, 2023
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May 19, 2023
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Kindle Edition
| ||||||||||||||
| 1925776131
| 9781925776133
| B0BV65ZTZP
| 4.60
| 5
| unknown
| Mar 22, 2023
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really liked it
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I read this for SPFBO. To find out more about the SPFBO contest and to see the participating bloggers/authors and reviews follow the links below It’s I read this for SPFBO. To find out more about the SPFBO contest and to see the participating bloggers/authors and reviews follow the links below It’s no secret that I love these mpov plotty stories, so I was very excited to get this one in my group (there was also a fair amount of horse-trading behind the scenes to ensure I did). There is a lot to unpack in this book so my review gets a little long and this is the cut down by a mile version. There were also quite a few things in the story that I didn't even address, in an attempt to shorten this up a little; hopefully I was able to keep my train of thought clear enough to make sense to anyone reading. The Unwanted had a lot of the elements that I love- interesting world, great characters that I can root for, mentor relationships, and magic that wasn’t too hard but not too soft either. * Between the three countries we end up with a pile of characters, but being that they were in separate groups and quite different socially- it went a long way in helping to keep them straight in my head. So, let’s start with the main group who are The Warlord’s soldiers called The Unwanted- Led by Michael- the Warlord’s most trusted soldier (and thought of as a son by him). Michael and his group of soldiers, travel around striking fear into the hearts of man with their presence alone. The Unwanteds’ reputation as heartless killers have the dual purpose of keeping order and protecting the people. But part of the reputation comes about because they also find any person who is strong in the Veil (magic) and take them as their own- whether they want to come along or not. On one of these scouting trips, they take Damien, who up until this point has managed to escape the notice of the Warlord by hiding himself away in the Veil. The Veil’s magic can be used in multiple ways- everything from defensive/offensive uses to mind-speaking or even hearing others who have talent in it. Michael, Damien, and the rest of the Unwanted, were my favourite part of the story. They have this brother/sistership thing happening and you know they will jump in front of a truck for each other. I love the dynamics in the group and even the bratty Aiden (The Warlord’s real son) who put some much-needed tension here and there, with his jealousy and nasty temperament. The other characters that give us a look at the rest of the world: Second up, we have the Hallaran clans who are fighting the Sylannians. Tarkhan and Khalium are coleaders of the Kallth. They are losing against the Sylannians and make the choice to flee over the mountains into the Warlord’s territory to try and save what is left of their people. And lastly the Sylannians with Jaclyn and her unit who are part of the invading force. The Sylannian units are the coolest- like a spider and web. Their family/unit is made up of a male with many female fighters protecting him. Their use of the veil allows them to mind speak to others in their unit and they have a silk they can harden into armour among other things. They’re kind of scary in how effective they can be as a unit. I thought Jaclyn was the most interesting, socially. She’s Sylannian, and the King’s sister. She also has more going on in her homeland with her family who are trying to rid themselves of her as a threat by sending her on dangerous missions they hope she will die doing. The story does this omni rolling pov at times, to help round out the world but there were some pov’s that were unnecessary- for instance Steven’s, because we learn everything we need to when Michael arrives anyway. * There was so much I loved about this book but there were a few things that stumbled me up. Occasionally I found things to be overly complicated. I understood what was trying to be shown but it also resulted in mixed signals on some things. The biggest being the Warlord himself who was supposed to be reigning the public in with his fierceness, but almost seemed quite agreeable- taking some of the fizzle out of the biggest decision of Damien’s arc. I felt no urgency in the decision because I didn’t feel the Warlord was a force to be reckoned with for most of the story but also up to this point Damien himself, was fitting in pretty well on his own- without being forced. The clans disappeared from the story for long enough after arriving in The Warlords territory, that I forgot about them. I will say though the initial show of force by The Unwanted at their first meet was pretty darned cool. Which btw is something that I found with all the battle scenes- they’re all very cinematic and movie worthy. Jaclyn: I never could decide if she was the big bad or not. We see enough of her to feel sympathy and understand her situation and for awhile I even thought she would end up banding together with the Unwanted against a greater threat, but by the end I wasn’t so sure. I assume that over the course of the series some of these things I mentioned will all come together to create a larger picture and I can eat my words. But as a singular story, I do think that it could have used more tension all around, and a bit of editing to clean-up some of the odd things here and there. Tldr: I loved this story. The world was cool; mostly because of how creative the clans were- particularly the Sylannians and Jaclyn, in the way their family units worked. The magic with the Veil that can be shared between them or just for themselves is neat and can be used in a multitude of ways. But the biggest sell for me was the characters were all ones I wanted to spend time getting to know. The whole troupe of the Unwanted were so much fun. I loved the family feel to them. And Jaclyn, though I didn’t love her as much as Damien, I was still curious about her story and seeing how it pans out. So my only real gripes were to do with lack of tension, and that about halfway I started wondering where the story was going. Even so, it says a lot that I loved the characters so much, that I would happily return for book two just to spend time with them. Learn more about the contest here- https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/... Phase one is here- https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/... ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jun 26, 2023
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Sep 08, 2023
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May 19, 2023
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Kindle Edition
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| B08VKVHCY7
| 3.48
| 46
| unknown
| Jan 31, 2021
|
liked it
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I read this for SPFBO. To find out more about the SPFBO contest and to see the participating bloggers/authors and reviews follow the links below 3.5 I read this for SPFBO. To find out more about the SPFBO contest and to see the participating bloggers/authors and reviews follow the links below 3.5 I was very excited to get this in my group. I have an undying love of fairytales and retellings. There was a lot I enjoyed about this retelling starting with the changes. Aisha Urooj kept enough of the elements of the originals to recognize it without actually making this a blow-by-blow retelling. In fact, it kept enough of that darker feel to the story in the beginning (coupled with that title) to make me worry about which way this tale would go - Disney or sadly. This was one time I was grateful for reading on kindle because if this had been a paperback, I probably would have popped-ahead for spoilers. The story is in two parts and in this tale- Ariana’s (the little mermaid) mother Helena, was human and her father The Sea King, stole her and brought her to live in his kingdom under the sea (so hard not to sing that last bit). Helena’s stories of home are what sparks Ariana’s interest in the wonders of the world above. The Sea Witch has a son named Victor, who is enamoured with Ariana. I liked that a lot of the tale was from his perspective. Especially because his pov. just makes the whole thing feel fresh to our eyes. There are a lot of new and fun elements to the story- Victor is helping Ariana win the heart of her prince Ivan (and being incredibly jealous while doing so), all the while hoping she will eventually see himself, as a potential love interest. There are additional cast on land, with Ivan and his family. And a dark force rising in the ocean, with Victor and Ariana’s destinies tied into its outcome. Also, there are fun little nods to Disney’s flounder and Sebastian. The first part somewhat tells the story we know (to a point) but part two, veers away and builds off all those tidbits of backstory that the author used to pad and revamp the original. I loved how incredibly creative it was and all the additional story in the second book but I did wish the two parts had a more cohesive blending of their parts together. The first part, definitely felt stronger than second part which was a bit more all over the place, filling in more details of the story and introducing characters to give us a clear path for the main characters to gain their ending. I wondered why more of the details hadn’t been included in the main body, earlier, as I felt it would have been a smoother story all around. As it was, part two felt like it was written at a later time (and maybe that was the case). That said, I still say this was one of the more imaginative retellings I’ve read in a while, and I enjoyed it a lot for that reason (and also for making me doubt for a while which way the end would go). If you like retellings like I do, it’s worth checking this one out just for that reason alone. Learn more about the contest here- https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/... ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jun 26, 2023
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Sep 07, 2023
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May 19, 2023
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Kindle Edition
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| 1953692338
| 9781953692337
| B0C22X9Q1H
| 3.84
| 89
| unknown
| Apr 26, 2023
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it was amazing
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I read this for SPFBO. To find out more about the SPFBO contest and to see the participating bloggers/authors and reviews follow the links below One I read this for SPFBO. To find out more about the SPFBO contest and to see the participating bloggers/authors and reviews follow the links below One of the first things I do with my group in spfbo is sort my books by page count. I can usually tell a lot about what to expect from a story just by how much time the author thinks they need to tell their story- except when it come to these 250-300 pagers. They fool me every time. Sometimes they’re too bare bones and other times they’re perfect. In this case I knew within a few chapters we had a possible contender for the semi-finalist- as long as it could hold onto its promising start for two-hundred and twenty more pages. * In The Last Fang of God, Ryan Kirk weaves a tale of a Kalen, and his daughter Sascha, caught up in the fall-out of a life he tried to leave behind nearly two decades ago. You see, Kalen was originally from a clan known as the Wolves of Vilkas- he is the last true blood, and in his daughter that blood runs very strong. Kalen’s God, Vilkas’ is calling her back to the Tree, and Sascha can choose to ignore that calling- living out the remainder of her year in peace, or answer the call and the challenges that come with it. * There was a lot I enjoyed about this book, starting with the relationship between Kalen and Sascha- which is rocky at times, because of the lies Sacha perceives he has told by hiding his past and because Kalen is having a hard time seeing her as an adult. The story allows for mutual growth between these two, not only with each other but in facing up to their own mistakes. Sascha has all the conceit of a 16-year who thinks she knows everything, and who is coming into some pretty awesome powers. So needless to say, she could be pretty bratty at times and tried my patience on more than one occasion with her attitude. But their relationship is not just about Sascha growing-up and seeing her father as a fallible person, it’s also of Kalen loosening the parenting reigns and allowing her to become an adult. I saw glimpses of my husband and daughter here – especially in the moments where as a dad, Kalen, got to appreciate how well she had learned the things that he had taught her. All in all, I loved that there was some great father/daughter relationship stuff going on, which is not something I run across often. * Kirk writes in that clear, no words are wasted, fast-paced style that is a favourite of mine. Information is sprinkled through the story in an easy way that you don’t even realize your picking up the tidbits of character work or the world-building as your speeding along (Mike Shackle, is the closest I can think of who writes in this style). I find this style of writing to be very visual, even though there is little in the way of stopping to smell the roses (so to speak) unless it’s contributing to what’s happening around the characters and story. I guess its the most ‘movie-like’ for me because there are fewer distractions that cause the story to stall-out in my head. Other stuff I enjoyed- Rune magic. It’s been a hot minute since I’ve read anything with runes or where the God’s walk the earth and interact and/or influence the people and their lives. I liked the way it was done here- not too much and just letting the bulk of the story be about Kalen and Sascha and their part in the game. I won’t go into that part of the story, as the God’s have their own chess game going on and I don’t want to spoil anything. I will say that I liked how the story unfolded- it’s a tightly written and plotted book, everything that happened pushed the plot forward whether it was to help with the character growth, the relationship, or to move events to their conclusion. And agreeing with my teammate Olivia, I always felt this story knew where it was going. * I loved the style, the story, and especially the relationships. spfbo score 8.5 or 5 stars Learn more about the contest here- https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/... ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jun 26, 2023
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Sep 09, 2023
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May 19, 2023
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Kindle Edition
| ||||||||||||||
| 0990987752
| 9780990987758
| B0BCK87TM9
| 4.22
| 9
| unknown
| Oct 20, 2022
|
liked it
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I read this for SPFBO. To find out more about the SPFBO contest and to see the participating bloggers/authors and reviews follow the links below 3.5 T I read this for SPFBO. To find out more about the SPFBO contest and to see the participating bloggers/authors and reviews follow the links below 3.5 The Shattered Spire has the feel of a classic fantasy but with some fun elements that freshen it up. The Known Lands are protected by The Peace Spire. The Spire was set-up generations ago by the Wizards to protect the people by keeping the unwanted races out of their realm. The Spire’s crystal also keeps the peace with its magic tempering the inhabitants’ baser impulses. Basically, it is emitting a happy drug with a side-effect of keeping the population strong and able to work longer. There is the odd person that the crystal’s influence doesn’t seem to work on though. One of those people being the king’s son Darus, who believes he should be heir because he is the oldest. The Spire’s fall, spurs him into acting on that belief by organising an army and causing a whole pile of trouble. * The story follows a large cast and most of the pov’s are from the various heirs of the surrounding rulers as we see the power struggles between the family as the death of the King, impending civil war and a rampaging dragon throw everything into turmoil. The pov’s roll along with the story, not quite head-hopping but depending on what’s going on following everyone involved with certain characters. I know there is a name for this but for the life of me can’t think what it’s called atm. Anyway, this wasn’t always my favourite use as occasionally some pov’s seemed unnecessary, giving us an overlapping pov of an event we’ve seen already or other times I wished to have had characters that were more involved with the story sooner (like Darus). The characters didn’t always gel with me. Some made wishy-washy choices (especially Villem) and I had to remind myself these guys are young, and swayed by a breeze- especially if that breeze has a pretty face. And others like Livia, were pretty consistent in their choices. I liked Livia the best and the friendship between the younger prince Imric and Soot. A large portion of the cast is youngish and automatically you’d think YA but the darker themes say this will appeal to a little older crowd too. The book is a page turner. There was always something happening and I found myself blazing through it pretty quickly as things got more involved and I had more questions I needed answered. The family/heir drama is resolved but other plot points and a few questions remained unanswered and left open to build upon in later books (I assume). tldr: I wished for more answers to some of my questions but I enjoyed the fresh ideas, the interesting world and story, and that the pace kept me quickly turning the pages. Learn more about the contest here- https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/... ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jun 26, 2023
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Jul 25, 2023
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May 19, 2023
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ebook
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| 1970067071
| 9781970067071
| 1970067071
| 4.20
| 161
| Dec 2016
| Apr 23, 2021
|
really liked it
|
Thank you to J.C Kang once again for the ecopy and your incredible patience in my slow turnaround time. I think waiting 18 months calls for a round of
Thank you to J.C Kang once again for the ecopy and your incredible patience in my slow turnaround time. I think waiting 18 months calls for a round of applause. * So, these reviews get shorter and shorter with each book, as I try my best to avoid too many spoilers. That said this is a review for the fourth book, please be aware of possible spoilers for previous titles. | * Symphony of Fates brings an action-packed conclusion to the Dragon Songs Saga as all players converge on Cathay in a mad scramble for power that will change their world. The setting is stunning. The world alive and vibrant, and like the previous installments of this series, Kang juggles a huge cast of characters, while bringing grand-scaled battles to life. I can’t say enough about the visuals in these stories and/or the skill in juggling several nations of people around while keeping the focus on just the important players. * In Symphony of Fates, we no longer have that safe, untouchable feeling, that being a princess gave Kaia in the first couple of books. Now she feels fragile, with only herself to rely on as the world and people around her are full of treachery and her loved ones are lost to her. The cool thing about this series has been watching Kaia, grow and change over the course of it. Starting with gullible teenager, to her becoming a princess fully capable of ruling- she has come a long way from that young girl in the first couple books. And the author has not gone easy on her (or anyone else in this story for that matter). Each book has rounded out Kaia as a character a little bit at a time. Over the last few books her magic, helped her grow in various ways. Initially, the growth was social- gaining her confidence in herself, later it was politically- gaining a seat, and then it was power through her voice- not just magically, but as a leader who has earned respect through her decisions. This time around, she doesn’t have that magic to back her up, thanks to the Tiger’s Eye which has blocked her emotions- allowing her make decisions with a detachment that is needed to function on a day-to-day basis as she recovers from the trauma of her time with Geros, and the loss of her true love. Because of that emotional detachment, her magic has become inaccessible- there is a certain amount of emotion required in calling forth her voice/music for it to work properly, and now, Kaia must learn to stand-up without the aid of her magic, and eventually she must learn to do the same without that crutch that is the Tigers Eye. Kang doesn’t let anyone off easy. The journey was rough for these characters- the treacheries are close to home and the punishments swift. There is no sugar-coating, or a fix of what came before for Kaia, after Geros, especially with the fallout of her pregnancy. The author could have chosen to lighten the blow in places but chose not to cheapen the trials of what that she went through by giving her an easy out in the end. I know all I have talked about is Kaia in this review and while I adored Jie and Tian, because they were a little more mature in the beginning, and their parts of the story were actiony- this has definitely been Kaia’s story and I really grew to love her by the end of the series, more than everyone else- even Jie, which I didn’t expect. To sum it up: Symphony of Fates, is a nicely-wrapped up ending to this beautiful series with closure all around. I don’t think I have read another quite like it, or one so distinctly Chinese in its feel. The whole series has felt like watching a drama brought to life in my head, with the lovely scene-settings, the magic, and the behind-the-scenes political intrigue. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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May 18, 2023
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Aug 24, 2023
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May 18, 2023
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Hardcover
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| 4.50
| 14
| unknown
| Jun 20, 2023
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really liked it
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Huge thanks goes out to Jon Auerbach for the ecopy! I am back to see how Jen Jacobs makes out in her quest to join the Guild. Guild of Magic is just as Huge thanks goes out to Jon Auerbach for the ecopy! I am back to see how Jen Jacobs makes out in her quest to join the Guild. Guild of Magic is just as fun as the first book. The story again, takes place in and around New York City (minus a few interludes to past events or other locations that help fill in history) and the bustle of the city lends to that fast-pace feel of the story, adding personality through its locations, and sometimes frustration on their behalf, when trying to speedily reach a destination in the city that never sleeps. * There is all the fun treasure hunting and item exchanging that I enjoyed so much in Guild of Tokens and some pretty trippy side-effects for some of the alchemy gummies, and other relic/items. Jen is also dealing with the consequences of some of her choices in the first book. Her conscience won’t allow her to leave her long-time friends and ex, with the results that came of her “alchemy fix” to her past problems in Guild of Tokens. And let’s just say that I don’t think alchemy can be safely used for anything at this point, because most of it seems to be a big experiment and the results are very rarely great. * Through much of the first book, the dealings with the Guild were all done through Beatrice. And to be honest, I found at times her mental state was questionable, making me often wonder whether some of the stuff to do with the guild was a figment of her imagination. This time around though there are no doubts. That shadowy, in the background Guild is gone for good- as we explore its history, politics, and its purpose. They have their fingers in a lot of pies all over the world. We also meet a few of its members as Jen’s qualification for membership comes before the board, and as part of her last step to gain her seat, she teams up with another member, Emma, on a job that goes slightly off the rails. My favourite team-ups though, were still with Beatrice and Jen. There’s just something easy about their very rocky working relationship and I think their history (and ours with her) made it fun to see them partnered-up again. Beatrice may be a lunatic but she’s an endearing lunatic. * Guild of Magic is a quick-paced read. It’s full of humour and some really weird and interesting events- some of which are pretty much what you’d expect, if we got to experiment with a bit of magic in the here and now, without really understanding what the consequences would be. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Aug 03, 2023
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Dec 04, 2023
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May 15, 2023
| ||||||||||||||||||
| 0307797554
| 9780307797551
| B00513HC34
| 4.36
| 12,253
| 1993
| Jun 08, 2011
|
really liked it
|
I’ve been seeing Gemmel’s books around forever and really had no plan to read any of them despite their popularity – until Mihir said I needed to. Dav I’ve been seeing Gemmel’s books around forever and really had no plan to read any of them despite their popularity – until Mihir said I needed to. David Gemmel is obviously well-loved and there’s isn’t going to be a lot I can add to a review that hasn’t been said so here’s just a few quick thoughts. I enjoyed this a lot more than I expected. At first, I was getting those old-pulp style vibes but Druss surprised me, though it was predictable to a point- in the way heroic fantasy does follow a path, but what I really enjoyed was the fast-paced modern writing and the way the story unfolded. And I liked that for a story that spells out what’s going to happen with future prophecies- it manages to surprise along the way too. There are some great peripheral characters- especially Sieben, and surprisingly Michanek? (Rowena’s second husband). Druss in some ways is the typical heroic fantasy character- he never wavers in his values, his love for Rowena, or his moral compass throughout the course of the story. He is who he is, and that steadfastness in is values and presence of self, inspires change in those around him. And I think that’s where this story becomes so special. We may be reading about “Druss the legend” but really, it’s his impact on those around him that make this such a great tale. Great story- fun, actiony, and a little bittersweet at times. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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May 15, 2023
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Jun 12, 2023
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Apr 16, 2023
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Kindle Edition
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Jennifer (bunnyreads)
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Books:
2023
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| 4.50
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it was amazing
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Nov 2023
not set
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Sep 20, 2024
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| 4.20
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really liked it
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Feb 09, 2024
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Nov 14, 2023
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| 3.71
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really liked it
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Nov 08, 2023
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Oct 27, 2023
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| 4.26
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really liked it
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Mar 11, 2024
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Oct 03, 2023
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| 3.90
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really liked it
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Nov 2023
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Sep 27, 2023
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| 3.75
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liked it
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Oct 18, 2023
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Sep 11, 2023
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| 4.14
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really liked it
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Oct 18, 2023
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Aug 28, 2023
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| 4.14
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really liked it
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Aug 30, 2023
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Aug 16, 2023
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| 4.19
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really liked it
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Oct 18, 2023
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Aug 16, 2023
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| 4.17
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really liked it
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Oct 18, 2023
Sep 08, 2023
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Jun 26, 2023
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| 3.92
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it was amazing
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Jun 05, 2023
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Jun 04, 2023
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| 4.71
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really liked it
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Jul 25, 2023
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May 19, 2023
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| 3.90
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really liked it
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Jul 25, 2023
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May 19, 2023
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| 4.60
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really liked it
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Sep 08, 2023
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May 19, 2023
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| 3.48
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liked it
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Sep 07, 2023
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May 19, 2023
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| 3.84
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it was amazing
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Sep 09, 2023
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May 19, 2023
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| 4.22
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liked it
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Jul 25, 2023
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May 19, 2023
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| 4.20
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really liked it
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Aug 24, 2023
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May 18, 2023
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| 4.50
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really liked it
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Dec 04, 2023
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May 15, 2023
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| 4.36
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really liked it
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Jun 12, 2023
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Apr 16, 2023
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