dumb fun; a mish-mash; a cacophony of incomplete ideas; an adult novel written as if it were a Young Adult novel; a bonafide page-turner.
I was irritabdumb fun; a mish-mash; a cacophony of incomplete ideas; an adult novel written as if it were a Young Adult novel; a bonafide page-turner.
I was irritably wondering why there was so much time spent describing how horny our heroine is for our template-broody hero, who is barely described outside of having dark hair and cut muscles, until I suddenly remembered that this is a shining example of the genre called ❤️ROMANTASY❤️. the fault is all mine! constant simmering horniness is a hallmark of the romance genre, so why shouldn't it be for the ❤️...more
this is so badly written and yet so readable. how can such tripe make me want to turn the pages faster, faster, faster? I dunno, but gee whiz, this suthis is so badly written and yet so readable. how can such tripe make me want to turn the pages faster, faster, faster? I dunno, but gee whiz, this sure stunk and yet I devoured it in like two sittings.
so a mad Alice, shorn of her basic traits of curiosity and sensibility (did the author even read the source material?), along with an equally mad hatchet-wielding murderer (who I assume will be revealed as the Mad Hatter in a subsequent book), escape from a burning asylum and travel through Old City to hunt down the Jabberwock. it turns out that Alice is also a Magician, because why not. the two are in love, because why not. Old City is a violent slum ruled by various magical pimps at war with each other, named the Carpenter, the Walrus, the Caterpillar, and the Rabbit, because why not. this grotesque sequel to Alice in Wonderland is all about the many, many, many horrible ways that girls can be trafficked, raped, abused, mutilated, and murdered, because why not.
if only the writing didn't read like amateurish fan fiction, I could have tolerated it as some kind of creepy, exceedingly dark fantasy adventure. the ideas are not uninteresting. I would love to read a book that has adult versions of the Caterpillar and the Cheshire Cat, two really fun and interesting (and dark) characters in the source material. but the author's lack of ability with characterization made all of her Wonderland villains equally flat and annoying. it's like her approach to characterization is to build a whole character around one usually horrible idea, and then leave it at that. and so these monstrous pimps mutilate girls (the Caterpillar) or devour them during rape (the Walrus), or they like roses and secrets (Cheshire), and that's about all we get. these are not interesting villains.
Christina Henry also does that incredibly annoying thing that many bad writers do: she repeats what just happened as a summary, right after whatever happens happened. is this to increase page count? it occurs so many times. almost as many times as her Alice repeatedly asking questions about what just happened or what is now happening or what will happen next. I think I've written "happen" too many times, maybe I'm just as bad a writer as Christina Henry?
it suddenly occurred to me why this book was so readable! the writing is so very bad, so nonsensical at times, that it somehow mirrors the madness of Alice. it just yammers away. or perhaps it just mirrors the nonsense of the original? I realize I'm grasping at straws here. anyway, this book was nonsense and not the good kind....more
Some books, like some songs, have everything I'd want in them. What the writer wanted to happen aligns perfectly with what I was hoping for. A whole wSome books, like some songs, have everything I'd want in them. What the writer wanted to happen aligns perfectly with what I was hoping for. A whole world, perfectly made, between the beginning and the ending of the song, or the book, within the little work of art that is so contained and so itself, and is yet so big, so expansive. No notes!
Doe, a deer, a female deer Ray, a drop of golden sun Me, a name I call myself Far, a long, long way to run Sew, a needle pulling thread La, a note to follow Sew Tea, a drink with jam and bread That will bring us back to Do
'Pascal's wager' is a philosophical argument by Blaise Pascal which "posits that individuals essentially engage in a life-defining gamble regarding the belief in the existence of God." Believe, because why not? It will only help you in the end if your belief happens to be true. It can only help you along the way to your end. Is there really an end?
This book is its own sort of Pascal's wager. A perhaps pagan version, but still a wager.
I've been wondering for a month about how I'd write a review of The Ocean at the End of the Lane. What could I say other than I loved it completely? And now I give up! This is the rare perfect book for me....more
Catherynne Valente is a phenomenally talented author: her writing overflows with creativity, new ways to describe everything from a person to a settinCatherynne Valente is a phenomenally talented author: her writing overflows with creativity, new ways to describe everything from a person to a setting to an emotion, new ways to approach storytelling itself. Her style combines both postmodernism and New Weird techniques, and the lushness of her prose is reminiscent of Angela Carter and Tanith Lee (two of my favorite authors). I loved her novels In the Night Garden and The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland.
Unfortunately, this collection was hit or miss for me. There were some wonderful stories (bolded below) but there were also some that I found to be completely unreadable. I'm always down for a challenge, but if things get too silly, too disgusting, and/or too shouty, I find that it's easier to just quit engaging rather than sticking it out and getting increasingly annoyed. Who has the time for that? I do that for people, may as well apply that philosophy to stories too.
All that said, for the most part the stories were perfectly fine. Each one was creative and unique, in their own way. And those stories that I loved - well, I really really loved them. At her best, she's one of the finest and most original of modern genre writers. She has a unique vision and she always goes her own way. An admirable writer.
27 nasty stories by a very talented writer wasting much of his talent, alas. by "nasty" I don't just mean wall-to-wall gore and fucking, which would n27 nasty stories by a very talented writer wasting much of his talent, alas. by "nasty" I don't just mean wall-to-wall gore and fucking, which would not necessarily be an issue for me. these stories do have tons of gore and sex, and much that is graphically scatalogical as well. really sickening stuff at times. they also have a genuinely nasty sensibility: joyously juvenile, sniggeringly sadistic, viciously mean-spirited, not to mention misogynist and homophobic. I don't particularly admire contes cruel and so I didn't particularly admire this collection. yet it was all still... fun, in its way? McNaughton writes like writing is a breeze; he is almost casually masterful in his ability to toss off a cleverly ironic bit of dialogue or an elegant descriptive sentence, which can be startling when his tales are often so crass and so broadly horrific. and his narratives, even in the shortest of his short stories, are often surprisingly complex. he was an ingenious and very original writer. RIP!
there were three stories that I might read again. (in bold below.) the first two reminded me of his brilliant cult classic The Throne of Bones with their dark fantasy settings, plots that hinge on misuse of magic, and of course their cruel humor. the third is set in an aristocratic English milieu and is chock-full of clockwork automatons and sport-fucking.
okay time to take a shower, these stories made me feel unclean. so very nasty!
☢
"Conversion of St. Monocarp" - nasty Medieval body-switcher gets her just reward
"Nothing But the Best" & "Drink Me" - nasty body-switching wizard gets his just reward - twice!
"Interrupted Pilgrimage" - nasty Medieval illusion-caster gets his just reward
"The Hole" - nasty young voyeur gets his just reward
"Changes" - nasty normal reality gets turned into an even nastier abnormal reality
"Lovelocks" - nasty ninny in love gets his just reward
"Fantasia on 'Little Red Riding Hood'" - nasty author reimagines a classic fairy tale
"Water and the Spirit" - nasty warlord is the recipient of some nasty revenge from a dead water wizard; in the end, the nastier of the two will survive!
"Congratulations" - nasty tv grifter gets his just reward; nice witch is nice to her neighbors
"Why We Fear the Dark" - nasty cop is also a nasty cat
"The Disposal of Uncle Dave" - nasty husband is also a nasty toad
"Getting It All Back" - nasty parents falsely accused of sexual abuse by their nasty children; nasty daughter gets her just reward
"Undying Love" - nasty necrophiliac finally lays a live one
"Child of the Night" - vampire-seeking youth finds his questions answered by a nasty priest
"The Dunwich Lodger" - nasty motel manager versus his nasty father; abused wife meets nasty sorceror
"Annunciator" - cryo-frozen head awakens to a nasty future
"Rubber-Face" - nasty colonialist gets his just reward in the Congo; rubber magic is nasty magic
"Herbert West- Reincarnated" - nasty Herbert West finds new employment in nasty Nazi Germany; a nasty Jesus Christ is reanimated, nastily
"La Fille aux Yeux d'Email" - nasty English earl versus nasty French clockmaker; lots of nasty sex with a nasty countess and a nasty maid
"Star Stalker" - nasty supermodel hires some nasty cops
"Marantha's Tale" - nasty illusion-casting creature called a 'bog-losel' gets its just reward
"To My Dear Friend, Hommy-Bet" - nasty hack author receives a nasty fanzine and a nastier creature from a nasty amateur book reviewer. so much nastiness!...more
Martha Wells turns everything upside down in this thrill-packed adventure that has its cast of superpowered immortals traveling across an atypical fanMartha Wells turns everything upside down in this thrill-packed adventure that has its cast of superpowered immortals traveling across an atypical fantasy world as they seek to unravel a conspiracy and find a kidnapped friend, while the occasional flashback chapters detail a revolution against an insidious imperial power. this is the opposite of a European-derived fantasy, as it features various nomadic and Arabic or Persian-inspired societies, matriarchal cultures, heroic witches, and benign demons who include the Witch King himself (complete with a very positive spin on both possession and blood magic). the multiple magic systems on display all worked, as did the book's take on angels, who are basically rigid, haughty jerks riding flying chariots. the novel is a lot of flash and bang, with a strong undercurrent of melancholy and sadness as well, due to the multiple examples of slavery and genocide that once occurred while this world was subjugated by its former colonial masters. despite that darkness, Wells' story is bright and cheeky and very easy going down. at times I was pleasantly reminded of His Dark Materials, which is always appreciated. also: swimming through a drowned city!
the book has all of the most current of progressive ideologies on display, alongside more classic progressive tropes such as the centering of female characters and a strong critique of empire-building and colonialism. in other books, I've found attempts to merge modern progressive ideals with genre templates to be incredibly risible (looking at you, Every Fart a Doorway and The Book of Assholes); those chores were unfinishable for me. the virtue signalling from their supposedly enlightened authors just rang so hollow and felt so forced and so fake, it was nauseating. not so with Witch King! Wells did just what she needed to do to make it all work: she made sure that all of the au courant race and trans/gender ideologies on display were organic to her world and its characters; not shoehorned in by a clumsy author, but made an intrinsic part of the worldbuilding and the characterization. and so the book has multiple trans characters who are referred to by the pronouns of their inner selves, not their bodies; nonbinary characters; a non-jarring use of "they" as a default, until the gender of the character is established (and who include theys); a distinct queerness in the descriptions of clothing and hair choices as well as in the actual gender roles of various ethnic cultures; complete normalization of same-sex love and marriage; communal societies favored over rigidly hierarchical societies (demon royalty and their servants chat and eat together as equals; the villains are literally named "Hierarchs" and are aided by "Patriarchs" LOL); and a cast that is mainly all the shades of brown (with whiteness relegated to the evil imperialists and those obnoxious angels, LOL again). the book is basically a woke wet dream, and even as a person who has many issues with the modern far-left and its often annoying ideological stances, I could only sit back and admire the layered complexity of the author's vision and how she made it all feel so easy, so well-integrated, so wonderfully natural.
why 3 stars and not 4? as is often the case with the many 3-star books I've fully enjoyed, it comes down to the quality of the prose itself. despite my admiration for the seamless inclusion of (presumably) the author's politics, the fascinating cultures, the brisk pacing... the writing itself felt fairly basic, almost Young Adult at times. I wanted Tanith Lee but I got fantasy John Scalzi; the prose did not sing. the same goes for the dialogue, which was often too snarky and too modern in its vernacular, and its characters, who were fun but surprisingly shallow despite the richness of their backstories and cultures. despite being immortal witches and demons and angels, no one felt strange, let alone nonhuman; they felt like the friendly colleagues I see nearly every day. I also question the title, which felt bizarrely chauvinist given the very female-forward nature of this book (plus our hero Kaiisteron is literally not the king of the witches!). ah well, that said, 3 stars is still a positive rating for me and I had a very positive experience reading this entirely enjoyable book....more
strange visions in a telescope, an aggressive peddler, a hermit living in the old monastery, wishes granted, a ferocious giant land-sloth on the prowlstrange visions in a telescope, an aggressive peddler, a hermit living in the old monastery, wishes granted, a ferocious giant land-sloth on the prowl... quite a tangle in quaint rural Slopshire! it was all very droll and atmospheric, per usual for a Western Lights story. this a rainy book best read in a comfy chair with a view nearby of overcast, windy weather. unfortunately, it is also Barlough's weakest so far, alas. the dialogue was often forced and repetitious, scenes felt overlong, characters barely sketched out. worst of all, the talking animals! the experience was like eating treacle, which no one should do. I have a lot of affection for this (mainly) splendid series, but this was much too much. lose the sweet tooth Barlough and get back to the darkness....more
another enjoyable entry in the Gentleman Bastard series: a well-developed fantasy world that combines the mafia, bustling cities, Oliver Twist, secretanother enjoyable entry in the Gentleman Bastard series: a well-developed fantasy world that combines the mafia, bustling cities, Oliver Twist, secret societies, pirates; mouthy characters who are often crass and often big-hearted (except towards the assholes). I don't usually care about an author's personality, but much as with his prior book, Scott Lynch again comes across as a sweet and down to earth guy. it also sounds like he may have been a bit of a theater nerd back in high school, because the play's the thing is all over this book, what with an entire parallel narrative devoted to younger versions of the cast putting on a show. and the play itself is clearly a labor of love, given all the dialogue and plot from that play appearing on the page. I'd watch it. overall this was a pretty entertaining experience. intrigue, action, magic, friendship, all of the important things. plus Locke finally gets to have actual sex. I didn't love how much time was spent on the romance - not that I'm against romance! it was just sorta tedious here. not really complaining though. this took me well over a month to read, but only because pleasant experiences should be stretched out, no need to rush it....more
REVIEW(S) BY CHATGPT with illustrations by AI Image & DALL-E prompts in italics
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DALL-E: Kristin Cashore's heroine Fire, macro 35mm, 90s grunge
REVIEW(S) BY CHATGPT with illustrations by AI Image & DALL-E prompts in italics
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AI Image: Fire via Botticelli, using Marilyn Monroe as a model
ChatGPT: write a review of Fire by Kristin Cashore in the style of the Goodreads reviewer mark monday, per the following reviews.
Fire by Kristin Cashore is a masterful work of fantasy fiction that delves deep into the psyche of its protagonist, a young woman gifted with extraordinary mental powers. The world-building in this book is simply phenomenal, with every detail meticulously crafted to create a fully-realized and immersive setting that will leave readers breathless.
The characters in Fire are similarly well-drawn and complex, with their motivations and desires driving the plot forward in surprising and unexpected ways. The titular character is especially fascinating, with her inner turmoil and struggle for self-acceptance serving as a powerful metaphor for the human capacity for both good and evil.
Cashore's prose is elegant and lyrical, effortlessly transporting readers to a world that is at once familiar and alien. Though there are moments of violence and tragedy in Fire, the overall tone of the book is one of hope and resilience, making it a truly uplifting and inspiring read.
DALL-E: photo-realistic digital art + nebula
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a review of Fire, written by the protagonist:
I am Fire, and I have never felt more alive than when I read Kristin Cashore's book about my own adventures. The author truly captured my essence as a monster and as a young woman struggling to find her place in the world.
The story follows my journey as a human monster born with the ability to manipulate minds and control others with my thoughts. Despite my extraordinary powers, I am also plagued with intense feelings of loneliness and insecurity, always feeling like an outcast among humans and monsters alike. As the story unfolds, I am thrust into a dangerous world of political intrigue, betrayal, and war. At first, I am hesitant to embrace my role as a warrior and leader, but eventually, I come to understand the importance of fighting for what I believe in and protecting those I love.
What I appreciate most about this book is how accurately it portrays my complex emotions and struggles. Cashore does an excellent job of showing how difficult it can be to navigate the sometimes murky waters of morality and self-discovery.
DALL-E: anime style, using the poster of Baise-moi as a model
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a review by the villain Leck:
I've read this book called Fire and I must say, it was fascinating. Kristin Cashore did an excellent job of portraying my kingdom and the world I created. The plot was engaging and twisted, just how I like stories to be.
The protagonist, Fire, was a captivating character. She possessed immense power, which always intrigues me, and her journey through the story was a delight to watch. However, I could not help but notice her flaws. Her empathy and kindness towards others were quite a problem for me.
The way Cashore portrayed Fire's ability to sense thoughts and emotions was intriguing. It made me wonder how different things would have been for my own kingdom if I too had such powers at my disposal. With that kind of ability, I could manipulate people's minds and rule with ease.
Overall, the book was an excellent read, but it made me realize that my world, my kingdom, was far more superior. If only the author had delved into my life and my story, maybe she would have found a better narrative. Nevertheless, I applaud Cashore's effort in creating such a vivid and interesting world in Fire.
oh, fire! how lovely you do glow in this world so cold and dire
your curves and colors so bright a sight that fills me with delight
but alas, society does not see the beauty that lies within thee
they judge you by your outward form ignoring the strength and warmth you perform
oh, fire! how unfair it seems to be the struggle women face for society's beauty
but fear not, dear flame for your beauty cannot be tamed
it shines from within and out a beauty that cannot be cast out
so let us celebrate your radiance and embrace the beauty within our own essence
oh, fire! you are a reminder of the beauty that lies within us all even in a world so dark and cruel.
DALL-E: digital art + portal to another dimension
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...a review that focuses on the dangers of beauty, attraction, and mind control:
Fire by Kristin Cashore takes place in a fantastical world that mirrors our own in its obsession with physical appearance and power. The main protagonist, named Fire, possesses an extraordinary beauty that causes people to become uncontrollably drawn to her. Though this may seem like a blessing, it proves to be nothing short of a curse as she's repeatedly targeted for her unique ability. Her beauty is also used as a weapon against her, with some individuals seeking to manipulate and control her.
The novel highlights the insidious nature of attraction and its ability to cloud people's judgment, leading them down dangerous paths. Characters are shown to be driven to acts of madness or violence because of their passions, highlighting how passion can be a destructive force if left unchecked.
In addition to the dangers of attraction, Fire also explores the theme of mind control. The story shows how powerful individuals can use their abilities to control others, manipulating them into doing their bidding. This highlights the inherent danger of giving too much power to one person or group and the potential for that power to corrupt.
Overall, Fire provides a cautionary tale about the dangers lurking beneath the surface of attraction and power. It offers a sobering reminder of the importance of self-control and the need to be aware of the influence others can have over us.
AI Image: in a style combining pointillism and Vermeer
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a review written by the empiricist George Berkeley:
The book revolves around the life of Fire, the last remaining human monster in a world full of magical creatures. What I find fascinating about this novel is how Cashore emphasizes the concept of perception and how it shapes our understanding of reality. For me, the novel is a perfect embodiment of my idea that "to be is to be perceived."
The novel also explores the idea of how our perceptions can be manipulated, and how this can shape our reality. Cashore does an excellent job of showcasing how the characters' perception of Fire shapes their treatment of her, and how this, in turn, affects Fire's own perception of herself.
Fire, Kristin Cashore's sophomore novel, is a bewitching tale of a girl with the power to control minds. Set in a land of sweeping landscapes and intricate politics, the author weaves a mesmerizing narrative of love, sacrifice, and redemption.
Fire is a study in the complexities of human relationships. The eponymous protagonist, a "monster" with the ability to manipulate thoughts and emotions, struggles to come to terms with her place in the world. Her journey is fraught with danger and betrayal, but all the while she stays true to herself and her principles.
In many ways, this novel stands as a companion piece to Cashore's debut Graceling, exploring similar themes of identity, self-discovery, and the struggle to find one's place in the world. However, Fire is a work that stands on its own, a haunting portrait of a young woman coming into her own and searching for love and acceptance in a world that fears and misunderstands her.
DALL-E: digital art + lavish palace setting
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a review written from the perspective of the metaphysical philosopher Henri Bergson; the review should incorporate his ideas re. intuition, identification, and the path to knowledge:
For Bergson, intuition is not some form of mysticism or supernatural force, but rather a more immediate and intuitive means of grasping the essence of things. In his view, the mind operates in two different modes: the analytical, which divides experience into separate parts and then processes them, and the intuitive, which penetrates the surface of things and grasps their inner essence.
Fire's character represents this latter mode, as she relates more to the emotional and intuitive parts of human nature. Her ability to read minds grants her a unique insight into people's personalities and motivations, and her intuition helps her connect with them on a deeper level.
Bergson's philosophical ideas about identification also play a role in Fire. In his view, identification is the process by which a subject can place themselves within an object or experience and come to understand it on a more profound level. This echoes Fire's own journey as she tries to come to terms with her powers and learn to control them.
Finally, Bergson's notion of the path to knowledge looms large in Fire. For him, knowledge was not something that could be achieved all at once, but rather a process of gradual exploration and discovery. Fire's experiences as she navigates her own powers and the complex relationships of those around her reflect this gradual journey of self-discovery.
AI Image: in a style combining Nagel & Klimt
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a review using the theory of "positive disintegration" as described by the psychologist Kazimierz Dąbrowski:
Fire embodies the concept of Positive Disintegration, as we see her character go through a transformation of self-awareness and empathic response to others. Initially, Fire tries to limit all her contact with people, avoiding people altogether to avoid using her powers to manipulate them. However, she slowly begins to recognize the importance of relationships and begins to embrace them. This is an integral part of her character development, which allows her to evolve into a different person. She undergoes a series of inner conflicts, which gradually help her understand who she is and who she wants to be. Eventually, she learns how to control her powers, and her goodness allows her to protect her kingdom from external threats.
In Fire, Dąbrowski’s idea of positive deterioration and reintegration takes place throughout the novel. Fire goes through “disintegration” early on in the novel when she is overwhelmed by her emotions, and it is only when she confronts those emotions that she is able to “integrate” and move forward.
Oh, Fire by Kristen is fire, A passionate tale to inspire, With monsters and magic, And a love so tragic, It's a sexy read that won't tire.
The heroine, Fire, is divine, Her beauty so bright, so refined, She can bend minds to her will, With a voice that could kill, And a heart that's both gentle and kind.
The romance is spicy and hot, With lovers who give it all they've got, They'll fight and they'll strive, To stay alive and thrive, And their love will never be forgot.
The plot is enigmatic and clever, With secrets that no one can measure, The pacing is perfect, The climax, worth it, It's a book you'll love to treasure.
So if you want a story that's steamy, With a world that's both gritty and dreamy, Pick up Fire by Kirsten, And you won't be thirsty again, It's a fantasy that's not too extreme-y!
DALL-E: in a style combining Warhol with psychedelic poster art
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review for the story "You’ll Surely Drown Here If You Stay" by Alyssa Wong
Dark fantasy horror Western, featuring necromancy, the scouring desert, shapreview for the story "You’ll Surely Drown Here If You Stay" by Alyssa Wong
Dark fantasy horror Western, featuring necromancy, the scouring desert, shapeshifting, revenge, and young love. Beautifully written with a rich, carefully unspooled backstory, wonderfully creepy imagery, a realistically depicted Old West milieu, and a mythic quality to its often bizarre but also sympathetically depicted characters. Darkness with a heart. This is the best kind of short story: it made me wish it were much longer and it made me want to read much more by this author.
this is the second tale I've read this year featuring a religious cat. of all things. this particular cat is Jeoffrey, who lives in a madhouse and figthis is the second tale I've read this year featuring a religious cat. of all things. this particular cat is Jeoffrey, who lives in a madhouse and fights demons and Lucifer himself, when he attempts to take possession of his pet human. Siobhan Carroll is a droll writer with a light touch, and she certainly knows how cats think. in particular I enjoyed the scene where Jeoffrey shows his disdain for Satan by carefully studying a wall, which is much more interesting than some boring fallen angel. that's very cat. I also appreciated Carroll's understanding of how well cats can creep (between dimensions) and how hard it must be for a prideful cat to reach out to other cats in order to get their support in fighting the Adversary. totally been there, it's a struggle. but one must swallow one's pride and assemble a good fighting team if you truly want to beat the Devil.
this took me 6 months to read, oh man the shame of it. I guess I wasn't in an epic fantasy mood in 2022. overall, it was pretty enjoyable. over 1,000 this took me 6 months to read, oh man the shame of it. I guess I wasn't in an epic fantasy mood in 2022. overall, it was pretty enjoyable. over 1,000 pages of dense plotting and hundreds of characters can be a lot; at this point, I'm using a spreadsheet to keep track of characters across all of the books. and I'm using the Malazan wiki, and the glossary, and another spreadsheet that I found on reddit that shows how much space each POV character takes in each book and in the series overall. reading Malazan Book of the Fallen is a serious commitment!
the first 250 pages - a book itself, basically - is devoted to the very bloody adventures and I suppose finding-himself of a minor supporting character from a prior book. I guess he's not so minor after all. the gigantic, incredibly violent and vicious, but eventually sardonic and even kinda kindly Karsa was a frustrating and then very enjoyable character. he doesn't necessarily turn into a good guy and he does have a psycho-spiritual link to the ghosts of all of the people he's killed (to the second-sighted, these links look like hundreds of people chained to him), which is inarguably creepy. but he ends up being kind of a positive bright spot in the book. aww, redemption! except he's now apparently pledged to the demented Crippled God who wants to destroy the world. hopefully Karsa eventually opts out of that relationship.
after that quarter, we get typical Malazan adventures for the remaining 750 pages: a sweeping canvas with so, so many characters and places, tons of magic, a bunch of upsetting creatures, lots of great fights, lots of humor (some of it even funny), good guys who aren't actually a pain to read about (I especially liked the saintly, angsty wizard L'oric), disturbing tragedies, gods and islands and crypts and shapeshifting and secrets and characters in disguise and awesome weapons and some nice schadenfreude and so much mythology and and and best of all SPOILER RIGHT NOW the overarching plotline appears to be slowly but surely leading up to what should be a crazy intense battle with all of the characters aligned on one side or the other, each side led by a fanatical sister (great family)... but the battle just kinda evaporates and everyone ends up sorta half-assed chasing each other but mainly confused and not a little relieved. which was a great way to upend reader expectations because this series usually likes crazy intense battles. END SPOILER
one star docked because I really, really detested that female circumcision subplot.
so far: Memories of Ice > Deadhouse Gates > House of Chains > Gardens of the Moon...more
oh the sea, that rough and unkind mirror, the unknowable depths, the shallows that still can drown. it gives and it takes away. you shall project youroh the sea, that rough and unkind mirror, the unknowable depths, the shallows that still can drown. it gives and it takes away. you shall project your own fears and desires upon it. will it care? be angry, be sad, be lonely, be defiant; little chance the sea will respond to your petty mortal concerns, they are as stones thrown at a mountain. but what if it does respond? in its own strange and watery way. its shore can be a gateway, one used as entrance or exit, from either direction. you cast your angry hexes upon the sea. and to its shores, to you, comes a boy. first one boy and then another. two boys for the price of one fit of rage and grief. which is the boy you will love? the boy from the sea but born of the earth or the boy born of the sea brought to live on earth? which changeling shall love you in return? of course your own choice is clear: you yearn for the boy with the stars of the sea in his eyes, the earthbound boy born of water, the boy who yearns to return to his home. you love best what is most out of reach. and so your love shall be in vain, for a boy who is like the sea cannot love you back. you are but a creature of the earth, after all....more
...and now for something completely different! Cute Talking Animals! I was pretty taken aback when I realized that this typically eerie Western Lights...and now for something completely different! Cute Talking Animals! I was pretty taken aback when I realized that this typically eerie Western Lights novel was also going to feature animals as characters who talk to each other in I suppose Animal Language. coming from an author who ruthlessly disposed of his entire human cast in one particularly horrific earlier book and who, in his last book, reached his highest level yet in the sophistication of its narrative and the tragedy of some of his characters... the cutesiness on display was jarring? shocking? distancing? still, once I calmed down and realized that it was pretty darn cute after all and that a Western Lights novel doesn't always have to feature mass murder and despair, it was back to business as usual in my enjoyment of this author and his series of standalone novels set in this strange, sundered world. the book has the expected amount of wonderful atmosphere and wry humor, a pleasantly rustic village setting, amusing characters, weird monsters, a surprisingly normal immortal child, and a bizarre abandoned hunting lodge discovered in the middle of a dark and forbidding forest. this novel is perhaps the most ruminative Western Lights book yet, dealing as it does with the yearning for childhood and lost innocence. plus the author is a veterinarian, so I suppose he always had it in him to feature cute talking animals. let's just hope he doesn't make a habit of it in the rest of the series....more
this is Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes through a Tom Reamy lens. same set-up: sinister carnival comes to a small midwest town, bringinthis is Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes through a Tom Reamy lens. same set-up: sinister carnival comes to a small midwest town, bringing with it magic and soul-searching about identity and a slow-burning, eventually over the top battle of good vs. evil. this is less of a rip-off and much more of a fond homage. I enjoyed it despite the familiarity of the story and overall preference for the Bradbury novel. the author has a lyrical way with words and a very modern sensibility when it comes to sexuality. Reamy also shows a very empathetic perspective when it comes to "difference" - the differences in the protagonists' (three young women) different approaches to life and especially the differences in physical appearance and ability experienced by the carnival's tragic "freaks". the Reamy lens also features a distinctly homoerotic vibe when it comes to describing the male gender (utterly absent when describing young women in the story), which was vaguely pleasant to a queer like myself - but also a bit eyerolling? anyway, this was an evocative, often moving, albeit rather unsurprising book overall. I preferred the author's prior San Diego Lightfoot Sue and Other Stories. that was consistently surprising and the breadth of imagination, depth of emotion, and range of styles on display really impressed me. unfortunately, Tom Reamy died before being able to write more. I wonder where his clear talent would have led him....more
mind-boggling to me that this trash story has so many admirers. different strokes, I guess. Khaw writes a dark fairy tale in prose that alternates betmind-boggling to me that this trash story has so many admirers. different strokes, I guess. Khaw writes a dark fairy tale in prose that alternates between strenuously mannered and witlessly vulgar. the plot, if one could call it that: over the top child-villain finally meets his match in a wicked witch stepmother. a promising set-up indeed, but this felt like an excuse to devise various ways that animals can be tortured and killed and various ways that an author can be pretentious and portentous. I was the opposite of enchanted....more
I know nothing about the Warhammer universe but apparently it is science fantasy for fans who find Game of Thrones to be too lighthearted and full of I know nothing about the Warhammer universe but apparently it is science fantasy for fans who find Game of Thrones to be too lighthearted and full of joy. I gave this book 2 stars because the writing is crap but honestly who cares about prose when the plot is There Will Be Blood.
Castle of Blood is about a bunch of people in a dark fantasy setting in a dark gothic castle in a dark revenge plot involving possession, and in a dark twist on that possession, those possesed get to turn into a monstrous demon whose sole goal is to stalk and then devour their parents, usually in the dark. Patricide, matricide, filicide, suicide, all the 'cides get their moment to shine in this speedily told tale that is basically the most brutal game of whack-a-mole imaginable and the mole is your son or daughter or parent. But I don't think you can call it a slaughter per se when everyone is killing everyone - I think of that as more of a murder party. Even the servants are invited!...more
Don't let them live in your head! Don’t view yourself through their eyes! Don’t copy their mannerisms, habits, styles, or ways of communicating! Don’t befriend them! Don’t make it all about them! Young woman, you are an individual! Think for yourself!
Lesson #2: Don't Be Afraid To Be You
Don’t mope around waiting to be noticed! Don't be a shrinking violet, a wallflower, or any other kind of garden variety girl! Don’t let society define you and don’t obsess over anyone else’s opinions! Don’t rely on boys to tell you who you are! Unleash yourself!
Well, unless you are killing some asshole who’s like over a hundred years old and who totally led you on and who wants to rule the world with dark magic – he deserves it!
one of the rare books where I'm not inspired to say much, other than it was FUN FUN LOTS OF FUN. but I guess I'll force myself. the 3 Londons were welone of the rare books where I'm not inspired to say much, other than it was FUN FUN LOTS OF FUN. but I guess I'll force myself. the 3 Londons were well-done. the magic system also well-done. the two leads were sympathetic. the key supporting character of the Good Prince was bi, which was a happy surprise. the twin villains were fabulously villainous, I really appreciated them. the complicated subsidiary villain who looks to be vanquished but who we all know will return as an even greater villain in later books was fantastic - the best part of the book for me. V.E. Schwab makes no real mistakes when it comes to the writing, the pacing, the interesting ideas, the humor, or the decent characterization. although there were some eye-rolling moments of 'serious' conversation between the two leads in the middle of the book that I could have done without. still, a minor complaint and this was overall a very enjoyable experience. although rather forgettable as well, maybe? I had a good time but I'm not in a rush to read its sequels. I would like to visit the blasted hellscape of Black London though, so hopefully it takes its place as an interesting 4th world in other books. I think I would find a happy home there!...more
Death came to stay with the girl, a secret smile on her lips. "Your life is a living death as is, I feel quite at home here. You have given me such a coDeath came to stay with the girl, a secret smile on her lips. "Your life is a living death as is, I feel quite at home here. You have given me such a comfy place in your heart. All the world hates your people - I can see why you hunger for slaughter." And then Death sat back, to see what would be wrought. And so the girl took a blade, and plunged it into her body. The girl would give birth to more deaths, and so unleash them upon the world. A new country will be born!
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