"This is the tale of Blatant Barm, the Unwashed Bandit. Baddest, meanest, stinkiest bandit."
How do I ma
It’s a good day to get punched.
"This is the tale of Blatant Barm, the Unwashed Bandit. Baddest, meanest, stinkiest bandit."
How do I make a spoiler-free review of this while holding back everything I feel right now? It would be a daunting task for every reader of The Lost Metal, especially if you’d fallen in love with these amazing characters…
"Wait. Who is Trell and who is Autonomy and who is that on the steps?"
The 5-star rating says a lot but it doesn’t say it all. For one thing, though I gave both five stars, The Lost Metal easily replaced The Bands of Mourning as the best entry of Era 2, and possibly the best of the entire Mistborn series. While Hero of the Ages had a more complex and thrilling plot, I had come to love the characters of the new era a lot more. They all shared a perfect combination of habitability, believability and complexity.
”I’m a bastion of useful information, I am.”
Just to make the review complete, I’ll repeat this line once more, but without much elaboration to keep the review concise: this is world building, character development, magical systems, mystery and adventure at their best, while also nicely complemented by humor and suspense. Once you’ve read The Lost Metal, it would not be surprising to find most other books lacking in at least one of these elements.
Kim: "What do you add to the team?" Wayne: ”Comic relief. Maybe a little whimsy. Improvisation. Vision.” Kim: ”You have a broad imagination, then?” Wayne: ”There are broads in my imagination almost all the time.”
It may have not been that clear going from one entry to the next, but looking all the way back at The Final Empire, Sanderson’s character development has come a long way. True, it was amazing even at that first Mistborn book, but he kept outdoing himself with each book, setting new standards for what is accepted as perfect.
”It’s hard to know what you want. We never have all the information. We merely have to do what we can with what we have.”
Making an ending realistic always comes with the conundrum of dishing out a balanced amount of happiness and disappointment. Though I wanted to say I hated the way few things ended, it would not have left such a profound impact had it been handled differently. I’ll stop at saying that the author gave us a beautiful ending.
”It was hard to tell with Wayne. At times he seemed deeply insightful. He inevitably ruined that. ”
As I mentioned before, this was a tough review to write… It was a shocking ending, which took me quite a bit of time to recover and get my thoughts in order. So, I’m keeping this review as a work in progress, and hoping to give it a much better revision during a future re-read.
"You are whatever you want to be, Wayne. You’re the wind. You’re the stars. You are all endless things."
And so ends what had been a remarkable Era 2… It is obviously heartbreaking, having to say goodbye to all these wonderful characters, but the prospect of anticipating an even better era 3 makes up for it, at least a little.
Farewell, my friend. You incredible rusting man. Thank you.
With that, he stretched into another palace, into another time. He stretched into the wind. And also into the stars. And all endless things.
"I am of a cautious temper, and unwilling to risk my happiness in a hurry."
This has to be the only Austen book I felt apprehensive of reading: the"I am of a cautious temper, and unwilling to risk my happiness in a hurry."
This has to be the only Austen book I felt apprehensive of reading: there is a lot of controversy around this book, to make one re-think if diving in to this would be a good idea. It turns out, at least for me, the forebodings were for nothing. Despite several shortcomings of the characters, including the heroine - Fanny Price, and a hurried ending, I liked the overall story. But it does fall behind Persuasion and Pride & Prejudice in many ways.
"How wonderful, how very wonderful the operations of time, and the changes of the human mind!”
"Good sense, like hers, will always act when really called upon;"
Before anything, I think I should first address what could make a reader uncomfortable with Mansfield Park. Had it not been for the way Fanny and Edmund were portrayed, and the nature of their relationship, I believe a lot of readers would have fallen in love with this book, just like with Austen's popular ones. Romance between cousins is always a delicate subject, and Fanny being Edmund's adopted sibling (kind of) does not help. It's understandable this could make a lot of readers uncomfortable. So, if you are to enjoy this book, you'll have to tolerate that aspect, which plays a central part of the story. Fanny's character traits are -though open to many interpretations- much more understandable, especially if you were to empathize with her and her situation in life. However, the two main antagonists, Mr. & Miss Crawford, are way more interesting in my opinion. Though the book uses a third person narrative, the perspective of Fanny controls the nature of of it. All others are very closely judged by her, with her unwavering morals, and flawless conduct in everything. Though these characteristics do get a little tiring at times, I preferred it to the ones of Edmund's.
"He knew her to be clever, to have a quick apprehension as well as good sense, and a fondness for reading, which, properly directed, must be an education in itself."
"She gave advice, advice too sound to be resisted by a good understanding, and given so mildly and considerately as not to irritate an imperfect temper, and she had the happiness of observing its good effects not unfrequently."
IF a reader could overlook the above (of at least understand, this was written at a time when such things are not controversial), then you're in for a fascinating story. As usual, the plot is centered around marriage and 'marriage economics'. And, as always, she is quite successful at introducing a unique perspective to make things interesting, using a silent, and an evaluative protagonist. A little introduction follows the arrival of Fanny Price at Mansfield Park, and quickly passes through several years to reach the present, while establishing a set of contrasting secondary characters, who are even better than Fanny. Contrary to the popular opinion, I really liked the way how story progressed, with a couple of exceptions, first one being Henry Crawford's character. The second half of the book attempted a lot to atone for his faults, out of which came nothing. After all that time effort, it didn't make much sense to give him such an ending. My other complaint lies with the overall ending of the story. Though Austen does take her time delivering some very unforgivable (and satisfying) verdicts to some of the antagonists, Fanny and Edmund's ending felt a little hurried. Edmund's last minute shift in opinion felt like a paradigm shift!
“If this man had not twelve thousand a year, he would be a very stupid fellow.”
"The temptation of immediate pleasure was too strong for a mind unused to make any sacrifice to right."
However, when all is said and done, I still find myself adding this book to my 'favorite fiction' self. After all, it is an Austen. How could one do anything else?
There is nothing like employment, active indispensable employment, for relieving sorrow.
Bardugo has outdone herself again! Based on a lot of reviews, I didn't expect this series to measure up to“All the Saints and their ugly mothers.”
Bardugo has outdone herself again! Based on a lot of reviews, I didn't expect this series to measure up to the standards set by SoC - and the first book did feel like a step down - but Rule of Wolves makes a phenomenal comeback! For me, this second book is right up there with SoC duology, and I loved every bit of it.
“I have a surplus of bad ideas,”
It feels repetitive to mention how much I've come to admire Bardugo's writing, world building, and character building, but, I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge those excellent traits. I think she can make anything immersive enough to keep a reader engaged. But Rule of Wolves isn't 'anything'. It makes up nicely for the somewhat slower-paced King of Scars by delivering a highly eventful, and a thoroughly entertaining wrap up to the duology which is full of suspense, mystery and anything else one could hope for. Considering the length of this book (compared to previous ones), KoS could've easily been a trilogy. It certainly would've been possible with how much was happening in this book. I'm really grateful that Bardugo decided to pack everything here, and not to keep the readers waiting for a third book.
“I like to keep all of my potential assassins in one room.”
The story picks up from that annoying ending of King of Scars, but the author introduces a set of twists at beginning, to eliminate the predictability of the story. We get a couple of new POVs, and some brief side quests to Shu and Kerch. It's a little difficult to say anything here without spoiling, so I'll just stop at saying there are some nice surprises waiting for SoC fans. I thought it would be annoying to read The Monk's POV, but it turned out good, if not amusing. Just like with King of Scars, even with the new POVs introduced here, more than half of the book orbits around Zoya: She is definitely the main character in Rule of Wolves. But I'm not complaining, as she has become one of my favorite characters in Grishaverse. Although, I feel she may be a little too over-powered here. The gloomy nature of Nina is not much changed, and I think Bardugo is not willing to make her character appear shallow by making her quickly recover over the loss of Matthias. I definitely hope to see her in future Grishaverse books. And finally, with beast or no beast, Nikolai is awesome as ever, and full of humor.
“We could play cards,” suggested Nikolai. “I’ve been working on a new poem—”(Tolya) “Or we could shoot ourselves out of a cannon.”(Nikolai) “A bit of culture wouldn’t hurt you.”(Tolya)
Saying the plot was eventful is an understatement for this one. There was so much happening, and it often felt like reading a sequel to SoC. The suspense kept on building, and the ending was spread throughout the last quarter of the book instead of confining it to the last few chapters. It made the ending much more satisfying, and helped tying up a lot of loose ends. It was nice, for once, to have a proper ending.
“I think strong men show strength, but great men show strength tempered by compassion.”
This time, with this being the last book and one with the big war, I thought I was prepared for loosing one or two characters towards the end, but Bardugo caught me off-guard. That bomb fell fell out of nowhere - literally and figuratively - and it was nearly impossible to recover from the melancholy it caused even after the end. And then, again, when it came to the last two chapters of Nina, Bardugo almost had me again. That could've broken the ending for me, but luckily, she must've been in a good mood when she wrote Nina's last chapter.
"I have a gift for order and a taste for chaos."
For me, I think this is the first time that a second book of a series worked out this well, by elevating the overall quality of a series. While S&B trilogy was good, I don't think I'll re-read it in foreseeable future. SoC was incredible, and I can't wait till I get to re-read the duology, but as both books of that duology were equally good, no surprise there. This duology had a very different effect. Although I did enjoy King of Scars, it didn't have that 'must re-read' quality. But Rule of Wolves made me re-think that. The second book was a huge step-up from the first, and it not only became great on its own, but also elevated the overall quality of the duology, making one certainly wish for a re-read.
I'm a bit surprised at myself for giving this one 5-stars... When a book gets a perfect rating from me, it's usually easy to pinpoi"Welcome to BP"
I'm a bit surprised at myself for giving this one 5-stars... When a book gets a perfect rating from me, it's usually easy to pinpoint why, and that reason is, almost always, there is one exceptional thing working out for the book. But with Rose Code, it's everything from complex, mysterious, thrilling nature of the plot, beautiful writing to fascinating characters. This is one the most complete books I've read recently. Typically, I wouldn't've preferred for such a book to be this lengthy, but Rose Code kept me going quite easily till the end.
"Three girls and a book - that was how it all began."
This is the first time I'm reading a book by Kate Quinn, and if this is any indication as to how she usually writes her characters, she is going to easily become one of my favorite authors. The three protagonists are some of the fascinating main characters I've come across in a modern book, and the author develops them in a seemingly effortless manner. They are a very realistic trio, each with distinct positive and negative attributes, making all the interactions colorful. The plot is a unique, mysterious storyline about a WW-II military intelligence camp, with plenty of twists to keep the reader captivated throughout the book. But like I said before, it's not just a single thing that is remarkable about this book. It's a concoction of so many great things.
"You had to respect a woman who could yawn with her mouth closed."
Quinn users two timelines for the majority of the book, present and some years back during WW-II. The present timeline is being used to establish a unique flow to the story, while the latter narrates the entire backstory, from the point where out main characters get acquainted for the first time. There's just something about the author's story telling which makes the flow of story very natural. The immersiveness starts from the very first page, and you will not have any peace until you make it to the finish. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction.
"A good university didn't mean a good man."...more
Wow! I did hope for the hype to be real with Six of Crows but this is incredible! Everything about this book was awesome: p"The deal is the deal."
Wow! I did hope for the hype to be real with Six of Crows but this is incredible! Everything about this book was awesome: plot, characters, world-building, writing. I'm having a hard time imagining Six of Crows ever getting a critical review from a reader of any taste. The never ending scheming of Kaz Brekker, supported by the most unique crew imaginable, unfolds one of the most entertaining and original stories I've ever read.
"Kaz Brekker didn't need a reason."
The plot begins in a somewhat confusing manner (at least for me, as I haven't read S&B Trilogy), and it does take a couple of chapters to put everything in place. But once beyond that, there aren't any more slow-moving parts in this 'well-oiled-machine'. The exhilarating story is full of suspense and mind-numbing plot twists right till the end. There's also a nice bit of magic, complemented with a little darker atmosphere to make things even more entertaining. The set of characters consists of some of the best I've ever come across, each contributing their own diverse and interesting fictional traits to help move along the plot. Irrespective of their shady morals, you are going to love all of them.
"Pride is a perilous thing."
Bardugo's world building is delightful. I didn't know that Shadow and Bone series shared the same world (which probably would've helped make an even more complete world), but it didn't feel like I'm missing out on anything. Everything's put in place using a seemingly simple but thoroughly enjoyable manner. It's the simple, yet quite impactful narrative that helps visualize everything beautifully.
"That's what he wants, not what he needs. Leverage is all about knowing the difference."
And the writing... It is so good... Rowling good... Took me only a couple of pages to fall in love with the smooth narrative and I devoured every sentence. The intentional gaps in narrative are anxiety-causing at times, but things did fall in to place in a most satisfying way later on. The use of humor is subtle most of the time, but well handled overall to complement the setting of the plot. However, it was a bit cruel to leave things off with that ending cliffhanger but I hope everything will come together in the second book.
"You have to know where you want to go before you get there."
I'm no longer surprised that this being an all-time-favorite of so many readers. It certainly made it to mine. Cannot wait to start Crooked Kingdom...
"Jer molle pe oonet. Enel mörd je nej agva trohem verretn" "No mourners" - "No funerals"
How refreshing is it to be back on fantasy... especially after a fe"Ooh, fairy floss."
WELCOME TO NEVERMOOR!
"Don't be alarmed. I'm ginger."
How refreshing is it to be back on fantasy... especially after a few months of complete non-fiction. Nevermoor paved the way perfectly to what would hopefully be my mid-year fantasy streak. This is the kind of story that makes a reader compelled to read the entire book in one sitting. Thank you, Miche for the recommendation.
"Good morning, ladies, gentlemen, and Wunimals."
The curiosity-invoking beginning of the book is going to ensure that most of the readers would be hooked from page one, which was creatively oriented by the author using a couple of quick time jumps to enliven us. Then it was followed by a completely unexpected turn of events, which facilitated the recital of an amazing storyline. The character development is fantastic in my opinion, which I was not expecting from a book chiefly aimed at children. The 11-year-old protagonist, Morrigan Crow is a nicely balanced character, the kind that has much potential to grow in a myriad of ways depending on the author's imagination in future. But what's even better is the rest of the cast: it was not too many nor too few, but like the perfect amount for a first book of a series.
"I didn't make my first proper enemy until I was twelve."
Jessica Townsend's writing is quite captivating. It feels like driving on a smooth road without any bumps or potholes irrespective of the twists and turns you encounter all over (in fact, it was so good that as I'm writing this review, I'm already finished with book two!), while further enhancing it all with a perfect amount of humor. You get everything you expect from a first book in a series, in the same time having the assurance of knowing there are plenty of promising ways to take things forward.
"My own dragon? Are you mental? Whose parents can afford to buy them a dragon?"
Now, it may be not fair to make any comparisons (or notice similarities) between Nevermoor and Harry Potter, but if you're an HP fan, you're going to have to do it whether you like it or not: Both protagonists being the same age (11 years) when the story begins, despised by own family members, getting introduced to a magical world they didn't used to know of before, a 'magical school' where each learn new stuff while getting acquainted with the remainder of the society, and a legendary villain who is tied to the protagonist from the very beginning are all going to cause many comparisons. Usually, these kinds of similarities would've bothered me (at least to some extent), but, surprisingly, I have not had any such issues here. If anything, it just made me engaged more with all the characters and events.
"First impressions are important."
And sure enough, Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow made an excellent first impression! Can't recommend enough!!
"Family. Belonging. Friendships to last a lifetime."...more
"Hold there, fair friend." "Now listen thou to this fine tale Of love I sing to thee. For 'tis a pretty little tale, And hath sweet melody."
For me, Rob"Hold there, fair friend." "Now listen thou to this fine tale Of love I sing to thee. For 'tis a pretty little tale, And hath sweet melody."
For me, Robin Hood has been one of the dearest characters of all time. I remember watching that 1984 TV Series many times when I was little, and that recall takes me back to those wonderful times even now. However, I haven't really thought of reading any books behind it. Consequently, when I was offered a copy of the book for an unbiased review, I jumped at the opportunity to read The Scarlet Forest, for I was keen to see how enjoyable it would be to re-live those memories after all this time. I know the 5-star rating already says it , but I'm thrilled to say this is far better than I had imagined. I loved every little bit of it! It was wonderful going back to Sherwood, after a long long time.
"I make it a custom to kiss the fairest lass at each contest - gives me good luck."
Story begins with the event that changes Robert Locksley's life to Robin Hood, and picks up from there. We do get several fun little flashbacks to the life before later on as we move forward. While the essence of Robin Hood's well-known traits are kept intact, the author recite the merry men's adventures in a most enjoyable manner, with careful attention to even the smallest of details. The world around Sherwood Forest and Nottinghamshire is created beautifully, giving one a very cozy feeling. Each chapter recounts a different adventure (with a couple of exceptions) and each one is equally entertaining. The main characters, including Lady Marian, Little John, Will Stutely, and Will Scarlet bring their own amusement to the story, introducing a nice bit of variety to the flow. There's no lack of humor as well.
"Sir Sheriff, if thou dost disobey mine orders but one time more, thine head shall be sent to France, whilst thy body remains in England."
There was a little bit of Romance as well, mainly related to Robin and Marian. Given the setting of the story, it wouldn't have come out well to have more than that. Being said that, I found 'that little bit' was effectively used by the author to properly convey the emotions between the two. But it's the bond between all members of the band that carries the most weight, even till the end. And speaking of the ending - which is obviously necessary for this to be a complete depiction - was tough to swallow. But it's not my place to spoil the book for future readers, so I'll stop at that.
"Love certainly softens one's brains, does it not?"
One thing I regret is not being able to truly appreciate the intricacy of contents. Each chapter was full of interesting little details, with the aim of delivering historically accurate information as much as possible. Had I been adequately knowledgeable in the background of legend of Robin Hood (aside from having watched the TV series, which I'm now convinced isn't that much), I would've enjoyed the book on an even deeper level. But, having read this, now I have a reference to measure my future reads on Robin Hood. Any fan of Robin Hood, or historical fiction for that matter, is going to love The Scarlet Forest.
"Master! Robin Hood come home!" "Long live the greenwood."
*Thank you A.E. Chandler for providing a copy of the book for an unbiased review* ...more
I don't know how this book ended up in my TBR, or what tempted me to pick it up out of nowhere, but this turned out to be "I've been King a week."
I don't know how this book ended up in my TBR, or what tempted me to pick it up out of nowhere, but this turned out to be one of the best fantasy stories I've read lately.
"Speak on; say what you will! I can think three thoughts at once."
It is through Suldrun of Lyonesse that we first delve into the story, the daughter of King Casmir, ruler of one of the ten 'sub-kingdoms' in Elder Isles. This beginning must have been one of the most complex starts to a fantasy series I've ever seen: I've lost count as to how many characters Vance had introduced in the first quarter alone, and the plot seemed to be all over the place. It took a considerable effort in getting used to the different regions and the key players, while staying sane with a myriad of sub-plots each complex on their own. It would be an understatement to say that this was an overwhelming start. I could easily picture many a reader abandoning the book after a couple of chapters. However, believe me when I tell you, that would be a huge mistake. What comes after is going to make up for everything! Around a third in to the book, the pieces will start to fall in to place, creating one of the most immersive reading experiences one could have!
"The fairy sense of humor never amuses its victim."
For me, the style of writing took a bit getting used to. It's not the modern, easy to read fantasy I've been lately (and frequently) acquainted with, but more of a Tolkien like prose, with a highly descriptive narrative. I've lost count the number of times I had to refer the dictionary, even across a single chapter. But it was strangely fulfilling, and now that I'm done, I wouldn't've preferred any other way. Vance definitely has a masterful way of handling the words. And the humor: again the author is a master and the book is full of little things to keep you smiling. Still, it never interrupts the ever building suspense, nor the fast pace of the story, but complements perfectly when required. It is that expert blend of suspense, adventure, humor, character development, and world building that we love to see in a single book.
"At sea as on the battlefield, respect does not come automatically. It must be earned. You will be judged by your competence rather than your birth."
You are going to encounter some incredible world building in Lyonesse. Although this being more of a low-fantasy story, the reader is going to forget that for the most part: the fictional kingdom of Elder Isles is developed in such an intriguing way, making it feel much closer to high-fantasy rather than anything else. I loved the geographical arrangement of the sub-kingdoms and how the author intelligently used it to steer the overall direction of the story, while also allowing politics to play a major role. There is no end to scheming by each leader in their plans to conquer neighboring kingdoms and you're going to love how thing are going to play out here. Another area Vance seems to have a knack for is describing meals: the description of each meal, irrespective of the size or worth or location felt quite appetizing, and got to be one of my favorite elements of the book.
"Brevity is the essence of wisdom."
"Extraordinary that those who command the perquisites of place are those most ready to ignore them!"
As for the character department, as I've mentioned before, the main complaint from majority of the readers could be the sheer amount of cast. It's easy to forget who's who, especially at the start, and it takes considerable effort even to keep track of the kings. But, in time, you get used to it. So, don't give up on the account of this difficulty. Characters themselves are quite complex, with distinct and intriguing personalities (and a few with multiple personalities), and it is hard not to fall in love with them. The apparent lack of a single protagonist was interesting to see as well, with it being more like a role that gets handed over around the mid point of the books to a second character. Anyway, I'm sure that most readers are going to love both of them.
"Good music always defeats bad luck, and never forget it!"
The ending was really really really good! Considering how some of the key characters got killed out of nowhere, I was a little apprehensive as the ending approached: There were too many ways Vance could've delivered a huge blow towards the end by killing off a few. Luckily, he gave a super satisfying ending with this first book, and hoping to see the same from next ones as well. Highly recommended to all fantasy lovers. But remember: Pace yourself during the first third of the book! (oh, and feel free to skip the prolog... it's mind numbingly tedious. If you must, read it after you're done with the book)
"Now, miss, my hat, and then you shall have your kiss."...more
If it hadn’t been for the recommendations I had received to commence the Sanderson voyage with Mistborn, Ela"I’ve only been a duke for ten years."
If it hadn’t been for the recommendations I had received to commence the Sanderson voyage with Mistborn, Elantris would have been my entry point to Cosmere. I had been confused as to why one should skip over the book that had been released at first, to work one’s way through a trilogy which was released later. But I’m beginning to see the wisdom behind the aforementioned suggestion: the author had grown so much between Elantris and Mistborn, making them appear like they belong in different classes. Mistborn is something that will make anyone fall in love with Sanderson’s writing. That being said, I was not the least bit disappointed with Elantris. Despite a number of minor shortcomings, (relatively speaking) Elantris, at least for me, was a thoroughly entertaining story.
"I never had a Seon."
Set on planet Sel of Sellish system, Elantris’s setting appears to be similar to a medieval one. While we do get a nice map with a few adjoining regions (and a whole other kingdom), almost all of the story is wrapped around the city of Elantris itself. In a way this is good, for, it’ll help readers focus more on the story and not be too troubled by keeping up with a detailed new world. But, like me, if you thrive on a large, and complex new world, it might do well to set your bar a little lower. Still, Elantris offers plenty of mystery and intrigue for any reader to explore in my opinion.
"Having knowledge was entirely different from explaining that knowledge to others."
Character development was also quite good (though not by Mistborn standard, but good enough). It looked as if the author was attempting to go with two protagonists - Serene and Raoden - but I felt like the story revolved more around Serene with Roaden being a key support role. Although, considering how everything turned out at the end, I could be wrong. Some of the characteristics of the duo did feel a bit cliché at times, but it wasn’t that annoying. Personally, I think the secondary characters turned out better than the protagonists. Kaise actually ended up my favorite by the end, and that goes to show that the main characters lacked that ‘livability,’ which usually makes a character great.
"The common people served the arteths and dorven, the arteths and dorven served the gradors, the gradors served the ragnats, the ragnats served the gyorns, the gyorns served Wyrn, and Wyrn served Jaddeth."
But where all those shortcomings in world-building and character-development became insignificant was the plot. Elantris is a unique story with plenty of mystery from start to finish, and will keep the reader immersed through the entirety of the book. Whether it is humor, politics, plotting & scheming, action, magic or romance (okay may be not ‘excellent’ romance) you are looking for, you will not be disappointed! In my opinion, Sanderson's storytelling came to his rescue in this first book of Cosmere. Even at the halfway point of the book, I was not expecting to give a 5-star rating, but the plot managed to eclipse most of the shortcomings by the end.
”All of the books say princesses are petite. I’m not exactly sure what petite means, but I don’t think she’s it.”
Looking at the majority of the reviews for Elantris, it seems that most are giving this one a mediocre rating, mainly attributing to the fact that this is Sanderson’s first book. If that is what is keeping you from reading the book, you’re missing out on a lot. Give this a try with no prejudices and you will be well rewarded!
It’s easy to see the answers once the puzzle is solved.
"I want to know everything there is to know about one Artemis Fowl"
It has been nearly a complete month of just Artemis Fowl! When I initially read"I want to know everything there is to know about one Artemis Fowl"
It has been nearly a complete month of just Artemis Fowl! When I initially read this first book of the eight book series, I gave a 3-star rating, hoping to do a review later. I loved the story, but I didn't feel like giving a solid 4-star rating. But now, here I am again, after making it through the entire series, and bumping that original rating to 4.
Looking back at this first book, I think I evaluated the book too critically, while focusing a little too much on the over-powered characters and some shortcoming in their development. But after a couple of books down the line, I decided to imagine the story as kind of a cartoon, and it made all the difference! After all, this book was not intended for adults.
Despite continuous havoc and restless scheming, there was hardly a single page in Artemis Fowl that didn't make me laugh. To be honest, I loved Holly a lot more than Artemis, but the duo made a fascinating protagonist combination. Rest of the characters were equally hilarious as well.
A light, entertaining read that will keep you laughing through and through, no matter how old you are....more
That was just incredible!! Entire book was full of goosebumps scenes! I know there are a ton of l"I didn't actually set out to save a princess..."
That was just incredible!! Entire book was full of goosebumps scenes! I know there are a ton of loose ends to take care of in the fourth book but it'd be hard to top this.
"I've learned a few things in the past three years."
Welcome to the Fells!
It has been only one book, but this feels way ahead of the Heir Chronicl"I've learned a few things in the past three years."
Welcome to the Fells!
It has been only one book, but this feels way ahead of the Heir Chronicles!
4.5 stars, but rounding it up because of the somewhat depressing ending. I always feel like Chima need to be careful with whom she chooses to kill from the friendlies...
Review to come.
"You got to keep your ear to the ground and your nose in the wind if you want to survive in these times."...more
"I'm a musician wrongly imprisoned for a crime I didn't commit."
This series is unreal! Still hard to decide who the main character is between Lyss"I'm a musician wrongly imprisoned for a crime I didn't commit."
This series is unreal! Still hard to decide who the main character is between Lyss, Ash and Jenna, but I'm loving every little thing about this series.
Review to come.
"It's important to remember the old stories. As soon as you forget a story, it comes around again, and you have to relive it."...more
"Sometimes home is where you need to go for healing."
That was exhilarating!!! A bleak start ha
I am Teza Von bin Miralla, Sworn Sword of Tarvos
"Sometimes home is where you need to go for healing."
That was exhilarating!!! A bleak start had me quite worried for a while, Chima's got awesome replacements for Raisa, Han and Micah! Cannot wait for the next.
Review to come.
"Animals usually have more sense than that. It's only humans tat tend to bang their heads against a stone wall."...more
First person - present tense - multiple POVs: That's uncharted territory for me. And after 400+ pages, here I'm, only barely getti"Ten burning hells."
First person - present tense - multiple POVs: That's uncharted territory for me. And after 400+ pages, here I'm, only barely getting used to the narrative. But once you look past that, An Ember in the Ashes is a solid, thoroughly enjoyable read.
"Skies, she's beautiful."
Let's start with the good. The plot-line here is amazing. There's never a dull moment in this high-fantasy world created created by Tahir, which appears to inherit a little from ancient Rome. Though there are two POVs sharing the same plot-line, they starts from opposite perspectives. This is a good thing, especially with this being first person, to better understand the initial conditions. There aren't a lot of twists in the first part, but the excitement of diving in to a new world will carry the reader easily to second part. And that's when things start to get really interesting, and completely unpredictable, followed by a spectacular ending in third part. I really loved the story-line in this first book - all three parts - which places a strong foundation for the entire series. Although, the attempt at creating a somewhat shallow love triangle did not make much sense for me, and I'm hoping there will be less emphasis on that in next books.
"The battle is a dance, one I know so well I barely have to think."
The two main characters are a pleasure to move along with, and I liked them both equally. True, Laia's character is not very complicated, but I'm hoping the author did that intentionally to have her improve continuously as the series unfolds. Elias on the other hand is a solid character, with enough complexity from the very beginning. The support characters, the good ones, are also quite interesting. The problem I have is with the villains. They appear to be completely one-dimensional, and utterly cruel, like they have zero emotions. Except for a very brief instance towards the end, there's nothing to help make there case whatsoever. Again, I'm hoping the 'villains' will also grow out of petty cruelty from next book.
"Seeing the enemy as a human. A general's ultimate nightmare."
The good thing about the first person present tense narrative is, it makes the reading exceptionally easy. Then Tahir's writing is also very clear, which in combination with the narrative makes the reading a pleasant experience. However, If you're a big fan of world building, it is highly likely that you are bound to be disappointed with this world. Aside from the map at the beginning, there's very little attention towards world building (compared to the average fantasy book). But for me, the plot-line was interesting enough to keep me engaged, and to pick up the next book immediately.
"Nan always said that as long as there is life, there is hope."...more
"I am forty thousand years old... Give or take a few millennia."
"Words are too much, too indelicate, for this conversation."
At long last, we a"I am forty thousand years old... Give or take a few millennia."
"Words are too much, too indelicate, for this conversation."
At long last, we are at the end of an extraordinary journey. Jemisin, yet again, has outdone her with The Stone Sky, bringing a spectacular ending to one of the best fantasy series of all time. And as usual, 'you realize belatedly,' what you don't know about Stillness is considerably more compared what you do know, even with two massive two books finished already. This was a mind blowing ending.
"It's dawn when you decide to change the world."
I started the last book only expecting action, assuming the author had covered pretty much everything about the backstory by now. But as it turns out, those seemingly irrelavent loopholes in the first two books still had some major roles to play here, right up to the very last chapter. Compared to first two books, the build up in suspense towards the end is even more pronounced, reaching the climax only during the last couple of chapters to deliver an impactful ending.
"The Earth forgets neither those who stabbed it in the back... nor those who put the knife in our hand."
At this point of the series, it comes rarely as a surprise how good Jemisin's writing, world building, and character development is. It felt like she had thought out the entire sequence of events from first book to last even before start writing the first book. The congruence, continuation and consistency between the three books couldn't've been as good otherwise. But who knows... May be Jemisin is that good!
"People believe what they wan to believe, not what is actually there to be seen and touched."
It was quite thrilling to reach the ending of this immersive series at last, but it's a little sad to see that this is really the end for all these amazing characters. I guess re-read of the trilogy will have to be the only consolation. Jemisin made my all-time-favorite author list with this single series, and while I'm tempted to do so, I'm now a little worried whether reading any of her other books might be disappointing compared to this. But hopefully that apprehension only applies to her past work, and looking forward to more great things from her down the line. I'll finish my review by saying, as of right now, Jemisin's The Broken Earth is the only other series to reach the place I hold for favorite fantasy series of all time, a place held only by Bardugo's SoC duology until now.
"In absence of all else, people run on hope." "I think that if you love someone, you don't get to choose how they love you back."
With an impeccable foundation laid through The Fifth Season, the second book of The Broken Earth is"It's never a waste of time to educate others."
With an impeccable foundation laid through The Fifth Season, the second book of The Broken Earth is all about bringing the reader up to speed on all things present. With the three character threads in the first book been already woven into a single complex storyline, Jemisin has finally found the time to introduce Nassun into the group. We are finally being told the entire backstory of Essun's family until now, filling probably the most annoying gap in the first book's plot (okay, maybe there's still some stuff need explaining, but I'll settle for this for now). While it looks like the meeting between Essun and Nassun is not going to happen for a while, there's plenty new happening with The Obelisk Gate.
Once again, from character development to world building to narrative, the author is perfect. Each new character complements the storyline in most unexpected ways, and one do indeed forget even the major events of the underlying plot when going through some of the short-term developments and minor backstories here. All these little things help the story progress, with Jemisin using her ability in converging the threads to set things up masterfully for the last book. As the title implies, there's a lot about the 'flying artifacts' here, but that's not all. Finally, I'm no longer bothered by the perspective of the narrative at all: it appears that any other way would've actually been damaging.
Understandably, it's not easy to make a middle book of a trilogy better compared to the first or third. However, for me, the transition from the first as well as the preparation of threads for the last were quite good, making The Obelisk Gate a great second book.
"Relationships chisel the final shape of one's being."...more
"Earthfires and rustbuckets." "I sleep like an earthshake"
I haven't read a ton of award-winning books, but out of the handful I've read, one ra"Earthfires and rustbuckets." "I sleep like an earthshake"
I haven't read a ton of award-winning books, but out of the handful I've read, one rarely lives up to the expectations. Maybe it's because of the hype, or the above average expectations, but the result is almost always the same. So, imagine my surprise when The Fifth Season made it beyond my wildest expectations: a books worthy of all the hype, second person present tense narrative notwithstanding.
"Winder, Spring, Summer, Fall; Death is fifth, and master of all." "The earth is good at healing itself."
Jemisin is amazing. She creates Stillness, a fascinating new world that is dark, intriguing, immersive and mysterious, with a seemingly effortless manner. Everything about the world building feels very original, and that alone is deserving of all the stars I could give. There's just something about her writing that makes it easily relatable. This is going to be my benchmark for measuring world-building in future books, until I come across something better.
"But human beings, too, are ephemeral things in the planetary scale. The number of things that they do not notice are literally astronomical."
Given that this is the first installment of a trilogy, priority has been given to world-building to establish a strong foundation for the rest of the series. Usually, one would expect, such a book to be a rather slow-paced one, however this is anything but that. Jemisin proves her originality is not limited world-building but also capable of managing plotlines. She uses three immersive storylines, and expertly converges them to a single thread by the end of this first book. I loved all three protagonists, but Essun is my clear favorite. There's also a whole lot of supporting characters, who are equally unique and interesting. But the most striking thing about the narrative is, in my opinion, the second person present tense point of view used for Essun. Usually, present tense narratives drive me crazy, but for once, it has worked out well. I kept wondering if it was really necessary, but once you made it to the end, it becomes clear that any other way would've destroyed the harmonious convergence of the plotlines.
"Much of history is unwritten. Remember this." "But pain is what shapes us, after all."
The Fifth Season doesn't really need a lot of pointers for those who haven't read the book yet, other than giving the highest recommendation possible for an adult fantasy book. However, for those select few who thrive on action along, it would be better to remember that this is a prologue to what is a most fascinating journey. So, take your time to place a solid foundation before moving to the real story from second book.
"History is always relevant." "Accuracy is sacrificed in the name of better poetry."
It's been a while since I've stopped blaming myself for not picking up a book, given the size of my ever-expanding TBR. But books like these make it really difficult to do so: I think majority of the readers are going to be disappointed for not reading this sooner. Again, highly recommended to adult fantasy fans.
"Neither myths nor mysteries can hold a candle to the most infinitesimal spark of hope."
"But this is the way the world ends. This is the way the world ends. This is the way the world ends. For the last time."...more
That was a significant leap in book length from Mistborn 2nd era! I really hope ther"I'm a priest of Brightvision the True."
Annotations R Awesome!
That was a significant leap in book length from Mistborn 2nd era! I really hope there will be a sequel to this one. I still would've rated this 5-stars even without the annotations, but Sanderson added a complete dimensions with those thoughts/ logic of his.
Review to come.
"-- My life to yours. My Breath become yours --"...more
Back to YA Fantasy, and this time I decided to select something randomly from my TBR. And I have to say,"I've always wanted to tase someone. Zap!"
Back to YA Fantasy, and this time I decided to select something randomly from my TBR. And I have to say, after finishing the first book of this trilogy, I'm pleasantly surprised. This turned out far better that I had hoped for! Laini Taylor establishes a solid foundation for what I expect would be a great fantasy series. I was in-between 3 and 4 stars for this one, but the ending nudged me towards 4-stars at last.
"An angel tried to kill me."
To be honest, the first half of the book is a little confusing. The reader is taken through a series of mysterious events around Karou, the protagonist, surrounded by a set of bizarre (but very unique, and interesting) characters, and there is little to no explanation about the events. Though it was fun, especially with the hilarious Zuzana, I didn't feel like a lot was happening. However, the second half started filling all the gaps, constantly going back and forth in timeline, leading up to the big reveal(s), which only came during the last couple of chapters. So, I think it's safe to assume that the author was mainly using this book to build the world, develop the key characters, and finish by revealing the core of the plot, so that she could start the actual story from the next book. She did a great job accomplishing all those things. The author's writing is quite good, which is easy to follow, and is assisted by a very nice prose. From the first chapter, it was clear that Taylor's world building is wonderful.
"Like mold on books, grow myths on history."
However, there were some noticeable shortcomings as well. Even with the added complexity of multiple worlds, I though the romance of this book was a little too obvious. I mean it wasn't bad by any means, but it was the usual love-at-first-sight we see everywhere. Also, the 'angelic villains' were not that interesting in my opinion, though that seems to be only limited to this first book, for, they have gotten much better in the second book. But in this first book, they do appear somewhat shallow. Anyway, I still enjoyed most of the book, and it did more than enough to convince me to continue with the series. A very promising start.
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