I was impressed with this. It had to have been difficult to write a novel about characters from a beloved TV show: fans will have their own ideas how I was impressed with this. It had to have been difficult to write a novel about characters from a beloved TV show: fans will have their own ideas how these characters should act and sound, and if that weren’t intimidating enough, the long amount of time that’s passed since the show’s cancellation can only have made things harder. I’m happy to report that Lovegrove pulled it off magnificently! This story gives individual characters their turn in the spotlight, and NO ONE seems out of character. He’s captured their attitudes, their voice, even, in some cases, their mannerisms. A few of the characters even had fuller treatment than they enjoyed in the show, with little snippets of back story here and there to flesh them out.
For example, the show hints at a warm relationship between Jayne and his mother; the novel shows a few times when he is thinking about her. It never feels out of place, and it’s always done in a down-to-earth, Jayne-Cobb style. Zoe is as tough as ever, and Mal is just all kinds of wonderful. For me though, the most impressive parts were the sections with Shepherd Book. He is arguably the most mysterious character in the series, and he keeps secrets even from his friends and crew mates. In the show, viewers never get inside his head. In this novel, Lovegrove tells a big chunk of the story from Book’s point of view, and it really works well. He is fleshed out enough to make him seem real as a narrator. He’s relatable. He’s also still mysterious, and his back story, such as it is, is told in such a way that it explains his character’s motivation and his commitment to helping others . . . while conveniently leaving out ALL the specific details about his past. It was brilliantly handled.
The story itself was well-told, and the tension kept building throughout. There was plenty of action, but there was also plenty of room for the characters to just be themselves. It would have been easy for an author to be lazy with regard to the story; some fans would be so happy to see these characters again that the plot itself might have suffered. However, that is certainly not the case here, and plot’s setup and resolution made for an intriguing storyline. The novel felt a bit like an episode of the show, but with more detail (so perhaps a 2-part episode). I’m sure this was intentional, and it worked well. Bonus! Lots of minor characters from the show get mentioned at some point in the story, and the text gives a nod to many of the events of the series. This was a must-read for any fans of Firefly. I don’t know whether it would be enjoyable even for people who haven’t seen the show, but I hope so. You DON’T have to have seen Serenity to enjoy it. An exciting space Western that lives up to the show....more
I haven't watched The Next Generation, so naturally there were some parts that didn't make a lot of sense to me. Nevertheless, I found the book quite I haven't watched The Next Generation, so naturally there were some parts that didn't make a lot of sense to me. Nevertheless, I found the book quite enjoyable; the illustrations are sweet and the cats endearing. Even without understanding the specific allusions to certain episodes, there is much here to enjoy. I would recommend this to Trekkers and Cat-lovers alike....more
Leigh Bardugo keeps getting better and better. The Grisha trilogy was a lot of fun, and the Six of Crows duology was edgy and tightly crafted. This waLeigh Bardugo keeps getting better and better. The Grisha trilogy was a lot of fun, and the Six of Crows duology was edgy and tightly crafted. This was a great follow-up to both of them, maintaining some of the beloved characters and upping the ante in their latest adventure. I was uncertain about how I’d like this, since Zoya (who wasn’t exactly my favorite character before) has a central role here. I think it’s a sign of Bardugo’s talent that she made Zoya so interesting without changing her or softening her. Zoya is still as hard and ornery as ever, and Bardugo did a great job of exploring the character and still being true to it. And she even got me to root for Zoya, too!
I don’t want to say too much because I don’t want to give anything away, but here are some of my spoiler-free thoughts: Nikolai is amazing, as always. Grisha lore and Grisha powers are explored more in this story, and they’re given a great deal of depth and nuance. This story included characters both from the Grisha trilogy and from Six of Crows duology, and while there are two (mostly) separate stories in this novel, it will be interesting to see how they converge in the sequel. I liked that we saw more of Adrik, but I was sad to see that he isn’t such a great commanding officer. Nina runs roughshod over him. I know that this story was more about Nina coming into her own, but I’m hoping that Adrik gets better at handling power in the sequel. I’ll be interested to see where his story goes. I liked that the suspense kept building throughout, and I liked the political dilemmas. I liked that even smaller, background characters felt real and vivid. And finally, about that ending, let me just say that I’m curious to see what will happen next. I will be watching for the sequel with great interest....more
A powerful, satisfying end to the trilogy. Alina has some difficult choices to make in this installment, and I loved watching her journey. Mal really A powerful, satisfying end to the trilogy. Alina has some difficult choices to make in this installment, and I loved watching her journey. Mal really comes into his own in this one as a leader and a warrior. I loved that the Grisha follow him and trust him, even though he’s otkazat’sya. I have read far too many fantasy books in which nonmagic characters drop out of the story because they aren’t important, or they get marginalized by the author to make room for magic characters, and I love love LOVE that Bardugo doesn’t fall into this easy trap. Mal is still very much an important character; he’s spent much of the trilogy fighting for every last scrap of respect from a more powerful magic elite, and it’s incredibly satisfying to see that pay off here. (Mal also has to be one of the nicest fictional characters ever—he’s got an unusual mix of strength and humility, and I love him to pieces. I don’t think I’ve cared so much about a love interest since Gilbert Blythe.) I was surprised by some of the story’s twists and turns, and I was on the edge of my seat for most of this book. I couldn’t predict where it was going; I didn’t know what would happen until it did. Parts of this story are very sad, and I love the bittersweet tone. And the ending is absolutely perfect....more
I really enjoyed this; it was creepy and eerie, and fairly dark for a kids’ book. The story was tightly written, and the characters were flawed and yeI really enjoyed this; it was creepy and eerie, and fairly dark for a kids’ book. The story was tightly written, and the characters were flawed and yet still likeable. I liked that the premise isn’t clear right away; things get explained as the story unfolds. This distinctive fantasy is compelling and very memorable. I don’t want to say too much here, because I don’t want to give anything away, but this is a story that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike....more
This is the middle book of a trilogy, but it’s anything but filler. The action starts right in the first chapter, and the plot is interesting and wellThis is the middle book of a trilogy, but it’s anything but filler. The action starts right in the first chapter, and the plot is interesting and well-crafted. This book continues the story of Alina, Mal, and the Darkling, and it introduces some beloved new characters as well. I also have to say how impressed I was with the character development. These are young characters who have been put into tough situations, and it’s fantastic watching them grow and change. Alina becomes a great deal stronger in this one, refusing to be simply a pawn, and pushing back where she can. They all learn from their previous mistakes and try to forge ahead. I also like that while the Darkling is around to threaten Alina and Mal, they grow strong in their resistance; they fight together and become closer. When the Darkling backs off, however, their friendship is strained and they grow distant. This idea, that the biggest danger to Alina and Mal’ relationship is Alina and Mal, makes for a very interesting character study. My favorite parts of the story were the conversations between the characters, in between the action scenes. It was nice to see the characters change, and the whole process was completely believable. This book also developes more of the fantasy world, and the story kept my interest all the way to the exciting conclusion....more
I made the mistake of starting this series on a Sunday afternoon, and it took me the better part of the week to squeeze inLove this! Loved it so much!
I made the mistake of starting this series on a Sunday afternoon, and it took me the better part of the week to squeeze in enough time to read the whole trilogy. This book swallowed me whole. When I was reading it, nothing else mattered. When I wasn’t reading, I was counting the minutes until my next chance to read. I fell in love with the characters, and with the world, and with the storytelling. I like that the characters are flawed (and believable), but still very likeable, even when they’re quarreling. I like watching Alina discover her abilities and learn about herself along the way. I loved seeing the romance (okay, I guess it’s a love triangle) develop. I like that it’s a fantasy story in a different universe, but I also like that it’s Russian-flavored; it makes the story seem very grounded and also slightly exotic. This book grabbed onto me and won’t let go. I want all my friends to read it so that we can all talk about it. I want Leigh Bardugo to write about a million more of these. (She’s written a bunch of other stuff that’s pretty amazing, but I want this trilogy to last forever.)
My advice? Start reading on Friday. You can binge-read the whole trilogy over the weekend, and you’ll get WAY more sleep that way, too!...more
I think this is a fun book for any child who likes Star Trek. Although it's got a lot of detail about the original series, it is definitely written onI think this is a fun book for any child who likes Star Trek. Although it's got a lot of detail about the original series, it is definitely written on a child's level. It includes a few games and puzzles for kids to work, as well as cut-out paper dolls of the Star Trek characters. If you're looking for behind-the-scenes information about the making of the show, this is NOT the book for you. Rather, this book fits firmly behind a nonbroken 4th wall, functioning as a guidebook that might be given out at Starfleet Academy. It's a fun way for kids to pretend right along with Captain Kirk....more
Wow! What a journey! I almost don't know how to review this—I certainly don't want to give anything away!—but I will say that this book is unusual andWow! What a journey! I almost don't know how to review this—I certainly don't want to give anything away!—but I will say that this book is unusual and very intense. Ghosts exist in this novel; if you can accept that premise, then just hang on for the ride. Colorful characters come to life in this story narrated by different voices, but centering on one haunted place. This isn't a horror story, but it's a compelling tale of poor decisions and tough survival. Highly recommended....more
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