I still remember the first time I rode a horse which is synonymous as saying I still remember the time I almost died. That hellbeast ran riot across aI still remember the first time I rode a horse which is synonymous as saying I still remember the time I almost died. That hellbeast ran riot across a large desert area surrounding a partially active volcano and laughed at my feeble attempts to summon help or stop his rampage.
What this earned for me was a year or two of riding lessons because where I grew up, riding lessons were the thing to do for proper young ladies. As there is nothing proper about me, you can be sure that I never progressed much past being able to keep my seat and to pick a good horse that would stop when I politely asked it to. A surprising amount of horse riding comes down to just picking the right horse. Some horses are always bad because they hate you and secretly long to tear into your entrails despite masquerading as a herbivore. Other horses are flighty and will have their good or bad moments. So for the most part, you pick a good horse and stick with it.
Authors tend to be like a horse. You find a good one and stick with it and they usually won’t fail you. This analogy is especially true for the Paranormal Romance genre where books tend to be serialized. I’ve tried to ride a series that was flighty with books wavering between good and bad like a toddler on too much sugar. It’s a frustrating experience.
If I had to pick my favourite horse though, Larrisa Ione would be it. I don’t know how she would feel to being referred to as a horse, but there it is. I’ve generally found her work to be consistently readable.
Immortal Rider is the story of a Horseman of the Apocalypse and a human man falling in love and dealing with her lying and evil brothers and the fact that she had him dragged into hell for kissing her. Completely normal stuff that I’m sure we can all relate to.
I have some issues with female representation in her novels and particularly this one. However, over all, I do enjoy her storytelling and her characters.
Her novels also tend to have the appropriate amount of cheesy goodness in them without overdoing it or crossing into the realm of dumbassery. Something that’s surprisingly easy to do in this genre. I think, if I’d read the first novel, I would have enjoyed this more as opposed to playing catch up and trying to familiarize myself with a world that seems to take it for granted that you already know most of the characters.
Ione’s novels are, at least in my opinion, better than the usual fare and they have a great deal of imagination and interesting world building in them. So if you’ve lost your seat in this genre and are looking for a good horse, maybe give Ione a chance.
Did you hear that sound? That sound, right there? Okay, well, it's either the sound of my heart forsaking Mead for all eternity, or there's a murdererDid you hear that sound? That sound, right there? Okay, well, it's either the sound of my heart forsaking Mead for all eternity, or there's a murderer whose broken into your house and is SNEAKING UP BEHIND YOU!!!!!
[image] Look over your shoulder just to check that I'm wrong. You know you want to do it!
Storm Born, the tragic tale of a woman forced by cruel fate to be hit on by ALL the men. Yes. That's what this story is about. Okay, there are fairies and she has to recover some damsel in distress but basically the novel is about Eugenie's love life.
I suppose my problem with Dark Born is that all of Mead's washed up, tried and not-so-true tropes are here. Again. Strong heroine (who will undoubtedly end the series as a complete moron), sexy hero who heroine loves, though nobody really knows why. Secondary sexy love interest who is way more awesome than sexy hero and who Mead spends far more time fleshing out a real relationship with the heroine, but who is apparently not the heroine's twue loff. For reasons completely unknown. I will inevitably like this love interest far more than the banal and boring love interest Mead champions.
The one thing I'll say about this novel is that Mead writes good sex. That's her one redeeming virtue. She writes gripping, interesting characters, a rich world and stories that hint at great possibilities, but Mead absolutely sucks at the follow through.
The difference with this novel is that I'm not interested in following through to watch her crash and burn yet another series. This novel reminded me of a quote by Dan Hemmens from Ferretbrain.
"Rape is not the occupational hazard of having a vagina."
Thank you.
Now I'll address the fictional critics in my head by saying that yes, Mead gave all these douches a reason to rape the protagonist that wasn't just about sex. But... well, it just doesn't count and I'll explain why.
I don't know about you, but *I* am personally sick of stories that tell me that because I have a vagina, I am a walking talking victim waiting to happen. Because novel after novel tells the same story. No matter how strong, powerful or kickarse you are as a heroine, you are still a victim and will need to be rescued by a man. Possibly several times.
I'm sick to death of it. Barely a page goes by in this book where rape isn't mentioned. Even if it's just to say, 'Eugenie, you're so beautiful I'd rape you and LIKE it!"
This book almost treats rape like a fucking compliment. "I've had five rape attempts today, what about you?" "Oh, I've had three." "Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that. Don't worry, maybe tomorrow will pick up!"
I have a problem with drilling into people's heads that women are victims. Always. Vulnerable, precious little petals. Don't let them out of the house or they'll trip over their puritanical vaginas and get raped. Or what about a message just as bad? Almost all men will rape if given the chance. It's the rare few who won't take the opportunity for a good ol' free for all on an unwilling woman.
Now hold on for an even bigger criticism. Of all the worst things, this was the WORST. POSSIBLE. THING!
[image]
This book... is like Anita Blake.
[image]
It's got multiple love interests, fairies, bargains made, political sex, sexual awakening of formerly prudish, loner character, mystery, evil women bitches out to get you. It's all so very reminiscent.
You know what? Don't read this book. Just go watch Generation 4 My Little Pony instead. I promise there's no rape there and it's about a thousand times better and more entertaining.
*This ARC was provided to me by HarperCollins. No money or favours were exchanged for this review - much to my chagrin!
November Madness is what I nick*This ARC was provided to me by HarperCollins. No money or favours were exchanged for this review - much to my chagrin!
November Madness is what I nicknamed this month. With a variety of very interesting looking titles becoming available for galley grab, to many readers, it appeared to be a smorgasbord of literary delights.
Everneath is one such of these delights and, in my opinion, completely deserves the hype.
Becks, a seventeen year old girl, wakes up from a hundred year-long hibernation with bad-boy supernatural, Cole. He’s been feeding from her to replenish himself, above the surface only six months have passed. Becks returns to her life a husk of her former self.
Emaciated, numb to emotion and damaged. She has six months to live before being dragged back into hell but she wants to see her exboyfriend, Jack, one more time before she goes.
If I were to find a movie to compare this book to, I suppose it would be a mix between The Labyrinth and Drugstore Cowboy (or The Man With A Golden Arm if you’re going to be persnickety). In fact, the whole book is a rather excellent drug metaphor. This hit home for me in a big way and was perhaps why I was especially moved and addicted (sorry!) by this novel.
The book is agonizingly beautiful in that Becks honestly struggles as a drug addict would and one could argue that all the fantastical elements in this book are Beck’s psychosis trying to deal with her recovery and past experiences. Jack was her love before The Feeding and Ashton breaks up the novel with several flashbacks to give us insight into Beck’s fall from grace. Cole, on the otherhand, is the perfect counterbalance. He is dark, seductive, effortlessly tempting. He is like a devil on Beck’s shoulder. He follows her everywhere trying to tempt her back. He has a weird relationship with Beck’s that is part dependency, part companionship that sufficiently muddies the usual moralities shuffled through in other such novels. It’s very clear, often, that Beck’s struggle to resist Cole is painful, sometimes a little nonsensical and takes an extraordinary strength of will and character.
Ashton weaves Cole’s character as being both despicable and yet sympathetic. It’s hard to entirely dismiss Cole as evil and yet you can hardly claim he’s good. He’s almost the culmination of almost every paranormal badboy douche who gets romanticized in these kinds of novels. Ashton takes that kind of character to his final conclusion and releases him upon her novel like a tornado. Yes, readership, there are boys out there who are gorgeous, dangerous, sexy-beyond-all-reason and effortlessly charming. But they will also suck you down into hell, suck you dry and in the end they just plain suck.
Jack is the excellent counter-balance in this novel. Damaged, yet loving and courageous he battles to keep Becks from being dragged back into the Everneath. Their relationship isn’t always strong. There’s so much honest emotion and history with these two characters that their relationship arc is solid and real.
I found the pacing of Everneath was smooth but fans of action and adventure books will probably find themselves itching for more. This is a book about people. People healing, people trusting, people trying to tear that all down again. There’s a plot and there’s a rushing timeline looming in the background but there’s not a lot of fists and falcon punches. Ashton’s writing is strong and serves well for this novel. Her use of imagery is great and she manages to create a rather unique and coherent mythology in this book.
But be warned, this is a trilogy and Ashton leaves her novel on a heartbreaking cliff-hanger of sorts. I am eagerly awaiting the sequel and this book goes on my to-buy list when released!
Is the spelling of Freakn' an American thing? Did everyone just wake up one morning and decide that they'd forgotten how contractions worked? Legit quIs the spelling of Freakn' an American thing? Did everyone just wake up one morning and decide that they'd forgotten how contractions worked? Legit question. Is this some localized version of it as opposed to Freakin'?
My partner actually really liked this book. I must admit there was a lot less to complain about than I thought there would be. The main character was all aggression and sass. Instead of treating her bitchiness as a problem to be cured, people in the book embraced it and saw it as a positive. I really liked that.
This book is very badly edited though with many, many typos to be found. Added to that the occasionally distressing choice of description. "I want your prick!" made me shudder. People's orbs were piercing. I'm not going to even examine the use of cleft.
I would feel like a hypocrite complaining about the insanely simplistic plot cause, you know, nobody reads these things for the plot. Except me. I think there's something wrong with me.
This is a nice, brain-dead read if you're inclined that way....more
*This galley was provided to me by the publishers via netgalley.
This review can also be found on my blog, Cuddlebuggery
3.5 Stars
Hallowed is a difficul*This galley was provided to me by the publishers via netgalley.
This review can also be found on my blog, Cuddlebuggery
3.5 Stars
Hallowed is a difficult book to rate because it's not going to appeal to everyone. If you're the kind of person who needs fast paced adventure then you're better off picking up something else. Hallowed is very much focused on relationships, self-growth and destiny.
It continues its themes with purpose, faith and trust - these themes are extended here and well constructed.
Clara is awaiting the return of the Black Wing and dealing with her newfound relationship with Tucker whilst Christian is in the background being all sexy and mysterious.
Struggling with how her purpose ended up last book, she is losing faith in herself and distrusting her family.
I felt like the strong characters and great writing by Hand really carried this novel because otherwise it might struggle very strongly from middle book syndrome. The plot is not progressed a whole deal but there are a number of big revelations.
But what Hand does bring to it is a great amount of self-awareness and just enough awkward reality and relationships to pull it through. I liked this book better than the first one and I felt like the writing was just a little tighter and stronger in this one.
Over all, a good, solid second installment from Hand and I look forward to the next.
Author blurb for Jill Myles from the author profile for Jessica Clare: After devouring hundreds of paperback romances, mythology books, and archaeologiAuthor blurb for Jill Myles from the author profile for Jessica Clare: After devouring hundreds of paperback romances, mythology books, and archaeological tomes, she decided to write a few books of her own - stories with a wild adventure, sharp banter, and lots of super-sexy situations. She prefers her heroes alpha and half-dressed, her heroines witty, and she loves nothing more than watching them overcome adversity to fall into bed together.
If you are wondering why I'm quoting Myles' author blurb and why it exists on Jessica Clare's author profile and why it's applicable to a Jessica Sims' book then congratulations - it worked. It worked because for some reason I purchased this book and you might have too. I read the author bio for Jessica Sims which says some shit about owning cats and playing games. What it doesn't say is that Jessica Sims in a nom de plume for Jill Myles and so is Jessica Clare.
I feel absolutely cheated. I'd already read Gentlemen Prefer Succubi, and disliked this author's writing intensely. I never would have bought this book if I'd known that she wrote it. I don't know why three pen names are necessary in the same genre and why two of those pen names are even in the same subgenre!
It's enough to say that nothing about the writing has improved. At all. If anything, the characterization has degraded. The blurb might lead you to believe that the writing is full of intelligence and research. It might make you think that the dialogue is smart, witty and sharp. You might think that the romance heroes are sexy and the heroines are strong but funny. It's all a lie. One big fucking lie.
Once again the plot was pathetically simple and juvenile. I honestly feel that the writing is cheap and sloppy as hell.
And the characters.
Fuck my life.
There is nothing witty about them. Nothing. Bathsheba is a capitulating moron who has no sense - common or otherwise. Beau is an obsessive, controlling psychopath. From the moment he meets her he controls everything about her. Their first date is nothing but creepy, gross sexual innuendo. Just a few hours after meeting her he has drugged her and kidnapped her to his hotel (for her own safety, of course). Within days he's kidnapped her again and dragged her to a remote location where he puts her completely within his control. This doesn't stop. The entire book continues like this.
I'm sure some will dismiss this as a caring man, concerned about his woman and taking care of her. My response would be to tell them to go volunteer at a woman's shelter at some point because that's exactly where Bathsheba would wind up one day.
When is the picture of what's sexy and appropriate going to change? This is not sexy. Abusive isn't sexy and Beau shows ALL the signs of an abuser. Spend three months helping a woman escape her abusive, controlling husband and come back and tell me this shit is still okay. Hear her cry on the phone night after night while he's in the shower because she's terrified for her life but physically can't leave. She can't leave because he controls her money, so she has to secretly work over time and squirrel the money away. She can't just take her passport and banking stuff. No. She has to pretend to be clearing out the study and she has to secret her documents away. Spend THREE MONTHS storing things for a terrified woman who is agonizingly working, inch by inch for moving day. I can not express the amount of thought and planning that goes into those moving days. Some of them will haunt me forever.
When we all have to show up but can't park in front of the house in case he drives by so we end up carrying boxes two blocks away to where our cars are. Where we have to board her cat and secretly arrange a garage for her car to stay in and keep plane tickets hidden in her name. Live those three months with the knowledge that ONE WRONG SLIP and he'll track her down and beat the shit out of her, kill her or worse - force her back to him. Something forgotten at home meaning an early return, a call to work where a careless coworker reveals she didn't come in, him accidentally stumbling on a clue to her plans beforehand.
Do all this and then come back to me and tell me it's alright to write this kind of relationship. I don't think there's anything that's going to convince me that Beau's characterization was harmless and just a sexy break from reality. It's a fucking tragic reality for far too many women. And it isn't romantic.
[image] Other girls my age were watching My Little Pony while I was obsessively borrowing Heathers fromDid you ever watch Christian Slater in Heathers?
[image] Other girls my age were watching My Little Pony while I was obsessively borrowing Heathers from the vidoe store (remember those?) I was like six years old and I thought Christian Slater was the shiz. Now it occurs to me, what the fuck were my parents thinking? I feel like this personal tidbit alone explains a lot about me. Where's my therapist's number? I think it's time for another session.
Well, we'll get into why I mentioned Christian Slater, but for now, it's simply because I'm being nostalgic.
Delaney Maxwell falls in ice water and dies. Yet she lives. Marvel at the paradox! But coming back to life has given her some super creepy powers and she has to deal with that whilst resolving long-standing issues with her bestfriend, Decker. All of this is complicated by Troy, who I imagine as looking a lot like Christian Slater did in Heathers.
And it's not because Troy is sexy, charismatic, mysterious and a little bit of a dramatic, emo psychopath.
Okay, maybe a little.
For a debut novel by Miranda, this was pretty good. The writing was decent, most of the characters were complex and well written.
The themes seem to surround how one deals with an impossible situation. Delaney spends a vast majority of the novel trying to cope with her survival and the lingering repercussions as well as her relationship with her mother and Decker.
The novel was mostly gripping, if not confused about what in wanted to achieve. Troy was sufficiently unsettling and yet sympathetic.
[image] Once again, absolutely no reason why I'm bringing him up. But read the novel for yourself and see if you don't get Heather's flashbacks!
Delaney was a bit of fresh air in that she had goals and purpose in her life that exceeds the usual YA standards of wanting to procreate with the love interest. She also had a complex and rich relationship with her parents. Who were, you know, actual parents and did actual parent-like things. Another big breath of fresh air. That's a pretty sad commentary on the state of YA.
I think the novel fails by trying to do too much of many things and not enough of other things.
[image] At first I thought it was too few abs (Christian Slater), but then I realized that maybe it was too much whining (Winona Ryder)
Overall, it was pretty good but not without its flaws. There's potential here, and not just for more pictures of 80's Christian Slater, further proving my truly tragic taste in men as a child, but for real depth of story telling and emotion. I'm just not sure how fully it was achieved here.
Maybe the problem is that it took itself so seriously. Heathers was great because it was full of camp, but I am digressing... or regressing. Maybe both. But the novel had no humour about itself and when your love interest is a hot teenage badboy psychopath - it pays to have some self awareness.
Or Christian Slater.
[image] Or not... gosh he's old!
*Also, now other women my age watch a whole bunch of cool movies - my favourite show atm? My Little Pony! That's right, bitches! I'm a brony! ...more
Masque of the Red Death took a lot of risks. Firstly, it was based on Poe’s title of the same name. And as everyone knows, generally you just don’tMasque of the Red Death took a lot of risks. Firstly, it was based on Poe’s title of the same name. And as everyone knows, generally you just don’t go messing with Poe.
[image]
All I’m saying is that shortly before this was taken, that skeleton was alive and very apologetic, but ultimately doomed.
Secondly, it’s a young adult novel that features drugs, sex and alcohol. Thirdly, the protagonist, Araby Worth, is suicidal.
After finishing it, it doesn’t feel like a novel that I necessarily need to talk about. I really enjoyed it. Duncan, an editor at Harper Collins, said in the forward, “We think Bethany Griffin is a startling and fresh voice in teen fiction.”
Well, I’ll give them that. I thought Griffin’s writing was well-crafted and strong. She has control over her prose and uses them to great effect throughout the novel.
Masque of the Red Death contains that dreaded creature – the love triangle. Curse it! But it was not horrifyingly painful. As a reader, it’s not something I enjoy and I don’t think it added much of value to this novel – but nor did it cause my eye to bleed and my internal organs to explode, so I think it can mostly be forgiven – though the relationship aspect does take up a significant portion of this story where I would have preferred, perhaps, to spend more time focusing on the political intrigue or intense plotting than over which boy may or may not kiss her.
[image] Plot, I’m going to let you finish in a minute. But this kiss scene is going to happen now.
Characterization in this novel is a tightrope over Niagra Falls difficulty setting and I think Griffin may just have pulled it off. Araby was the most difficult character of all. Not just because she was suicidal and depressed and mopy, but because she has a lot of difficult decisions to make and most of them impact on the world she’s in. There’s this uncomfortable feeling that a suicidal junkie may not be the person I’d want to place my hopes in, but somehow I think her warm heart and generous spirit balanced it out.
The two love interests, what can I say? It’s the usual toss up between Bad Boy and Ol’ Reliable. But Griffin gives a good twist on this and actually makes the relationships an interesting dynamic. The problem was that they occasionally interrupted the pacing.
[image] Excuse me, ma’am. Mind if I hijack your story pacing? Image by Avidel
Enjoyable and highly readable – I look forward to the next one!
For me, sometimes I rate a book because, objectively, it's just a really bad book with limited literary quality. This is not an objective rating and For me, sometimes I rate a book because, objectively, it's just a really bad book with limited literary quality. This is not an objective rating and I need to reinforce that before we continue. It is a subjective reflection on my personal reading experience.
Because the first half of the book, that I read, wasn't necessarily a poorly written book. If you like fairy fantasy then you will probably enjoy it. I, for one, enjoy fairies - but not this kind of fairy story, and it's not the author's fault.
Long is trying to get back to somewhat old school fairy tale tellings, and in doing so, has returned to many of the themes intrinsic to the fairy mythos - which is moral, physical and spiritual purity of the human which is tested when pitied into the fairy realm where temptations and defilers lurk around every corner.
Don't eat their food, don't dance with them (cause you know what dancing leads to...) don't corrupt yourself by lying with the fairy king. The counter balance to that is that through love, moral goodness (restraint for evil temptations) and by having a pure heart - you can triumph over the wicked, corrupt fae.
All a lovely story if that's your thing, but it isn't mine. I don't do distressed damsels at risk of having their virginity frisked and proving to all that their mighty heart can not be conquered by evil because she's just so GOOD and PURE. Look at her rescue that baby! Look how vulnerable she is one minute but protecting innocent children the next!
It really is my fault. I should have paid more attention to the cover. I mean, take a good look at that thing for a second.
[image]
I mean, look at it! She's wearing a white fru-fru dress while walking through a forest, clutching blooming flowers to her lower body and looking flustered and scared. I couldn't have picked a better way of depicting maidenhood if I'd taped a real hymen to the front cover. I need to learn to pay attention!
Just about everything that happens to our protagonist, from the moment she steps into fairy, is a sex metaphor she must escape from. And if that kind of repressed expression of female sexuality speaks to you then please try this book. But at the point in which a handsome man kisses her and she LOSES HER SOUL, and Oberon shows up as one of the big antagonists promising to deflower her because she's just so pure and good - well, that's the point at which my upchuck reflex goes into overdrive and I mentally check out.
At least I now know why Steph and I have no soul. It's all that dirty, dirty sex and alcohol and bad food and filthy dancing and lack of any kind of repression. And I really wouldn't personally have it any other way.
This review can be found on our blog at Cuddlebuggery.
*Thanks to the publishers who provided this ARC to me through Netgalley....more
The following book has been found in an abandoned, run-down house along with a body, a pen, and a worn and tattered copy of Girl of Nightmares. The wThe following book has been found in an abandoned, run-down house along with a body, a pen, and a worn and tattered copy of Girl of Nightmares. The walls have many words and phrases written in blood. It's contents provide the only clues to the
events that led to the the death of a person and an increasing string of disturbances in the area.
It reads as such:
This is a journal of my reading expedition. I have traveled to this remote locale so that I may read Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake in solitude. Rumour has it that this book is cursed and that whosoever reads it is doomed to have their wits scrambled and to be left insensible. Nevertheless I bravely proceed and scoff in the face of superstition. My intention is that others may benefit from the experiences chronicled within my journal and use it as a reference guide in their own reading experiences of Blake's second dip into the Anna Dressed in Blood Universe.
Page 1
I have been intrigued and saddened by the beginning. Dearest Anna, it seems, will likely not be a major character in this book, alas. But the writing remains of quality and it seems there are to be some ghost.
Page 48
There have been some instances of exciting ghost happenings, but also a great deal of plot set up and relationship dynamics. I rather wonder what the hype is but shall persevere for now.
Page 150
It has been a difficult slog. There has been average levels of awesome recorded and long stretches between badassery. I have grown weary of the angst and seek to end the experiment. Perseverance forces me onward and the everlasting hope that I shall one day be reunited with Anna. Her lack of presence in this novel has made it cumbersome and Cas' angst, and the secrecy surrounding him is wearisome. I am starting to doubt the curse. Worse yet, I am starting to doubt Blake. How far I have fallen? Tonight I shall weep tears of disappointment as I sleep with the lights on.
Page 235
Hark? Is this the same novel? Surely some great charm has bewitched me. My instruments do not lie, yet surely there has been a mistake. When I documented the levels of awesome, I was forced to notarize in my ledger that it was over 9000 and was unable to take further measurements for I had incidentally crushed my scouter in response. "What? 9000?" I said in shock and awe. "There's no way that can be right!"
I am not sure what happened next for I blacked out and was awoken the next day by hazy memories. There are now strange markings on the wall but I know not what they mean. I fear I have put them there. Am I becoming a monster? Can this curse be true and is it tampering with my senses?
Page 291
I understand now. I was foolish and ignorant before, but I have been shown the way. There is no human explanation. Yet I realize now that life has no meaning, but for this book. It is my only love. My purpose. It is the reason I have been born. There is no curse. Those who have not read it have been cursed. It is all so clear to me now. I have written a song for Blake that brings tears to my eyes as I sing it continuously throughout the night. It has become my only companion through out my enlightenment. I have written it down so that this knowledge may be passed on through the ages.
*This ARC was provided to me by the publishers via NetGalley. No money or favours were exchanged for this review.*
Somewhere along the way, zombies bec*This ARC was provided to me by the publishers via NetGalley. No money or favours were exchanged for this review.*
Somewhere along the way, zombies became hot.
[image] No, not that kind of hot
[image] This kind of hot!
Lia Habel has taken my two favourite genres, steampunk and zombies, and mixed them together. The results of which should have been a hundred times more fantabulous than anything humanity could ever have hoped to produce up until this point.
[image] With the sole exception of Neil Patrick Harris. Oh! And Terry Crew's abs.
Habel has a lot of potential going for her. This novel had SO much potential. Unfortunately, it was let down in a few key areas. However, I'm assured by the powers-that-be that this was done on purpose to stop humanity from transcending to the next level of consciousness, so I guess that explains a lot.
Habel displays an easy talent for creating fun characters, a diverse world and interesting storyline. Unfortunately, a lot of this was lost through a few rookie mistakes. It was doubly frustrating because I really wanted to enjoy this novel.
First of all, there are five POVs in this novel and it switches between them all rather frequently. Look, there's nothing wrong with multiple POVs. Many people enjoy them. However, what you gain in adding to characterization, you lose in pacing.
Reading a novel is a little like driving a stick. You start in first gear and you move your way up to five as the intensity picks up and heads towards the climax (I so want to put a filthy joke in here, but notice I didn't. RECOGNIZE MY RESTRAINT!) Then you have to move down in gear for your denouement and eventual conclusion.
But POVs tend to equal an automatic change in gear - often downward and it takes the reader awhile to get back up to speed and progress upwards. They have to get mentally pulled out of the storyline they were just following, they have to readjust to the new setting, recall where the current POV last finished and pick back up from there. Most readers can do this without much difficulty - to a point. But too many of these and you have a jerky ride at best, or lose all momentum at worst.
Secondly, the beginning struggles to get past a few big info dumps which makes the first half of this novel cumbersome. Once Habel is finished setting up her world, despite the extraordinary amount of time she takes to do this, she shows a natural flare for storytelling. With explanations out of the way, Habel seemed free to actually pump the novel full of action and excitement - something I greatly enjoyed.
I suppose the biggest issue is getting past the squick factor of romanticizing reanimated flesh.
[image] Oh c'mon, walking corpses have been dominating the catwalk for years! Right, Kate Moss?
Every time I thought I was okay with it, I realized I. Just. Wasn't.
Which, I guess, leads me to my last and final complaint because I found the relationship between the two main protagonists to be... uninspiring, if you know what I mean. And your proper enjoyment of the novel probably hinges on the following question. Do you want to imagine illicit zombie smoochies? And let's keep in mind that Habel's zombie lore isn't that different from normal zombie lore. They're still rotting dead people.
I mean, we're talking about a Chris Brown level of gross.
[image] No, wait. That's insulting to the zombie.
If you can, then strap on your clockwork jetpacks and give this novel a try!...more
I just really liked how plot-heavy is was. And iI gave this four stars.
*Rocks backwards and forwards*
What is happening to me?! What am I turning into?
I just really liked how plot-heavy is was. And it's not Cat or Bones whose relationship I'm happy to put away for now. I liked Vlad as a character but I thought it was Leila who really made this novel.
It's not the usual backwards and forwards.
Her: "I really like him but I don't know if he likes me."
Him: "Wow. I really like you."
Her: "He's just saying that because he wants someone. I wish it were true."
*Sexual tension*
*Interruption*
*Lots of sex*
*Plot resolution*
*Happily ever after*
It can get a bit tiring, but this wasn't and I really want to see where Frost takes it from here.
I picked this ARC because the cover kind of reminded me of Assassin's Creed.
[image] It does. It3.5 Stars
This ARC was provided to me by the publishers.
I picked this ARC because the cover kind of reminded me of Assassin's Creed.
[image] It does. It totally, totally does.
Even the title is kind of the same. The Assassin's Creed, The Emperor's Knife...
So I kind of thought it would be similar in that there'd be an assassin and a couple of sidekicks on a sweeping adventure with a lot of violence.
Actually, it turns out there's a lot more sex. And romance. Then more sex. But mostly romance.
[image] Tuvaini's way of saying: Doesn't matter. Had sex.
I don't know whether this book is classed as low fantasy or high fantasy. Whilst it's set in a fictional (albeit very familiar world) the emphasis on the magical element is very low. The Pattern and a few mages is about as magical as it gets. But for the review's sake, I'll just call it epic fantasy.
I'm somewhat crippled in my review as epic (or even low) fantasies aren't my general reading fare. It would be helpful to have something to compare The Emperor's Knife to and thus judge it by those standards. Alas, I don't. The fantasies I've read were years ago and mostly forgettable.
Williams has created a rich and diverse world with a varied and interesting cast of characters. Most of whom have sex (sorry, keep getting sidetracked by sex. Much like Williams did. Zing.) I enjoyed Sarmin's madness, brokenness and yet inner strength. I despised yet understood Tuvaini. Beyon was a very difficult character for me, shaking me between pity and revulsion, annoyance and sympathy.
The writing is, for the most part, solid. The prose generally flow well and the novel has a seamless, polished feel to it.
I was surprised how little violence there was. I mean, sure, people died, magical zombies, capricious emperor la di dah etc. But I would still scarcely call this edge-of-your-seat action. More like interesting side diversions. I didn't feel very concerned. There was no frantic, blood pumping battles that whip you into a frenzy of brutality that makes you punch your husband in the gut and tell him to "bring it, bitch".
Note from Mr. Kennedy: Please, don't do that anymore.
I suppose my only issues arose when the story chopped and flittered around like a child on a major sugar high. Often there were only a few paragraphs before a change, another few pages and then another change etc. It would have been easier to follow if we'd been allowed to stay with one character for a little longer between perspective shifts.
Also, I'm not sure I ever really connected fully with the female characters - an issue that probably won't be experienced by the majority of this novel's readership as I expect the demographic leans more to the male side. But, having said that, I'm not sure this is a criticism against Williams because, in novels similar to this, I never have really connected to the female characters. Perhaps women in male-geared epic fantasies just don't do anything for me.
Over all, it was a good read. The right kind of audience will probably greatly enjoy this book. Even if nobody leaps from great heights and lands in stacks of hay. It's still a good read.
And maybe just for shits and giggles, I'll falcon punch Mr. Kennedy anyway. ...more
My tale begins when Heart of Steel was purchased and shipped to me by the glorious, RADIANT Elizabeth
I liked the Iron Duke - but there were some thingMy tale begins when Heart of Steel was purchased and shipped to me by the glorious, RADIANT Elizabeth
I liked the Iron Duke - but there were some things holding it back from worshipping the ever-loving shit out of it.
Have you ever just known that if you were to meet a particular woman then you would immediately renounce men (or all other women) and devout yourself to them forever? Well, of course you do, you read my reviews - but I'm talking about someone other than me. That's how I felt about Captain Corsair. I loved her with a fiery passion that can never be doused.
But Brook is no stranger to making kick-ass characters because most people absolutely loved Mina from the first book. It's the male characters that have seen less enthusiasm. The Iron Duke himself was a big meh from me and it took me a while to warm to Archimedes Fox. Once I did, I rather adored him.
But I'm waiting for the day that Brook writes a character as insanely, bodaciously rockin' as Lady Corsair, and a male love interest that compares. I both long and fear for that day because I think the world might end and existence as we know it may, in fact, explode in a brilliant shiny light. I only hope I can read the book before I'm transported to a different state of consciousness.
The writing of this book sees a dramatic upturn. Brook has obviously been working on her craft. The story-telling has improved dramatically. This is Steampunk and glorious Steampunk at that. Brook's attention to historical detail and fantastic imagination help bring a vastly alternate world to light and I loved every minute of it.
The absolutely BEST thing about this book, without a doubt, is that it is no rapey! Yay!
Sometimes I feel like Marchetta books should come with a public health warning.
"Marchetta Fever," it would say.
"Symptoms include: pain, aching or burSometimes I feel like Marchetta books should come with a public health warning.
"Marchetta Fever," it would say.
"Symptoms include: pain, aching or burning in the chest region indicating a broken heart.
Uncontrollable weeping, both happy and sad, may occur frequently. More serious cases run the risk of having their mind blown.
This condition has no known cure."
That's me. That's me with every single one of these books.
I went into my local bookstore to order me some Marchetta this year. Let me explain the community I live in. The largest shopping center has, I kid you not, FIVE lingerie stores. Stores entirely devoted to selling ladies underwear and such accessories. It has one tiny bookstore. A bookstore that is going out of business. A bookstore that had no fewer than ten copies of A Shore Thing and Confessions of a Guidette. Did they have any Marchetta or Laini Taylor? No. One paperback copy of Froi of the Exiles was tucked away somewhere. This is a travesty. This should be considered a Federal Crime. The Unicorn Squad needs to get on that shit and put someone away in the Candy Cane House of Pain for violating awesomeness.
Marchetta's books are more than just readable, well-written, well-characterized novels of great spirit and imagination. There is a beauty to them, a magic to them which wafts through every sentence of every page. It's not just finely crafted writing, though it is that too. It's a living, beating heart and beautiful but broken soul.
Does it matter that this book was 600 pages long? Not to me. Not when every page was breath-takingly spectacular. The themes are almost always the same. Loss, pain, healing, family, loyalty. I love the complication and depth of her characterization.
Whatever it is that Marchetta does, it speaks to me. It touches me in parts of my heart that I had locked away and worked hard to forget. Sometimes it hurts but she always, always remembers to patch me up again when she's finished.
So, if you're feeling a little lacklustre about your reading selection, why don't you try getting yourself a case of Marchetta fever? It just might be what cures you.
What does it take to inspire someone to read a book?
Is it enough to give a heartfelt plea to the book's worthiness?
Maybe a meme? Or jazzhands? Will jaWhat does it take to inspire someone to read a book?
Is it enough to give a heartfelt plea to the book's worthiness?
Maybe a meme? Or jazzhands? Will jazzhands convince you?
[image] I know, a meme about jazzhands! Admit it! This is pretty damn irresistible!
Okay, well, if you're one of those strange people who would choose a convincing, well-informed review over a meme of a tiny turtle doing jazzhands then...
[image] Are you sure I can't convince you with jazzhands? Maybe throw in a shuffle for you?
Seraphina is half dragon, and not because her father struggles with the basic nuances of the English language.
[image] Well, maybe a little bit...
In this epic fantasy by debut author, Rachel Hartman, Seraphina is an abomination who must hide her true self from everyone lest she and her father are killed for heresy. Dragons have the ability to fold themselves into human bodies and have maintained a strenuous peace with the human kingdoms. Seraphina's life is put into jeopardy when court intrigue and mystery implicates that the treaty between dragons and humans is in danger.
Hartman's novel is almost flawlessly executed. The novel, whilst long, is easily readable. Hartman doesn't rush her narrative, but neither does it seem to drag or falter.
Aside from a few brief flashback sessions, the story is carried entirely by Seraphina who may be half human and half dragon, but she is all brilliant. She is the equivalent of some kind of bear/dragon hybrid. Like, a bear/dragon hybrid that can breath fire. Yeah, that level of coolness.
[image] Well, what do you know? They have a meme for that!
Often in novels, the female MC will profess to be extremely smart but, much to my chagrin, behave agonizingly stupidly and prove to have the mental faculties of a gnat. Seraphina is the total opposite of TSTL. She is brilliant, charming, ballsy and brave. All the while, she is also tactile, honest and fully-developed. Actually, I can not think of a single character in this book that I could argue as being two-dimensional or aggravating.
In fact, I absolutely loved the portrayal of strong female characters in this book. It was done with such grace and humanity that I found myself respecting most of the women in this book. Glisselda and the Queen were fantastic characters whom I absolutely adored.
Kiggs, as the love interest, was believable, endearing and wonderful. His character, so eccentric, so insightful and honourable, completely won me over. His relationship with Seraphina was genuine, subtle and romantic. The best thing? He wasn't any over-developed Romanticized Alpha Male! Thank goodness! He rocked it without needing to bully, oppress or corner Seraphina in any way!
The pacing is excellent for a lengthy novel. I gobbled it up and only at the very end did I feel any desire to speed things up. It is also beautifully well-written. The imagery alone was breath-takingly beautiful. The prose were polished and elegant. It was a pleasure to read. This novel was so full of emotion, beauty and poetry that I was honestly startled because I expected none of it.
I must confess that I am an acquaintance of Hartman here on GoodReads. I had grown a healthy respect for her opinions and expression, so I entered into reading Seraphina with a certain amount of skepticism and trepidation. I wonder if Hartman felt a similar trepidation when she saw that I had applied for her ARC and decided to read it! Because, let's face it, I'm not exactly known to be the most generous of reviewers. That's probably actually an understatement.
If you think that my opinion of this book has been swayed by my association with the author, then feel free to make your own mind up about it. I'm sure more reviews will be popping up soon.
But, to be honest, I didn't know what to expect when starting this novel. I've read work by friends before and had to put them aside, with embarrassment. This time is different. When Seraphina is released, I will buy this novel and treasure it. I will probably read it again and again when I need a laugh, or a romantic story or something to relax to. In fact, I loved this novel so much that I want to recommend it to everyone. I want to go get everyone I know and make them read it. This is the kind of novel that deserves to be published, that deserves to be successful. We need more of this out there. Not another trashy teen YA. This is the good shit. Right here.
So, my question is, what will it take to inspire you to read this book?
This ARC was provided to me by Random House publishers. No money or favours were exchanged.*
I don't believe in ghosts. I don't believe in Ouji boards, aliens, loch ness monsters, abominable snowmen, poltergeists, republicans or any of that otI don't believe in ghosts. I don't believe in Ouji boards, aliens, loch ness monsters, abominable snowmen, poltergeists, republicans or any of that other stuff.
My little brother makes me watch those ghost hunter documentaries (I'm using that term lightly) and tries to show me the DARN FACTS, DAMNIT KATE! WHY CAN'T YOU SEE THAT THEY'RE REAL?
Funny how he believes in ghosts but not the continued statistical evidence that indicates women still suffer from inequality and, yes little brother, even in western society. *Cue eye roll*
So keep that in mind when I say that this book scared the shit out of me.
[image]
Nothing is less fun then getting up in the middle of a dark night to tend to your son. You're creeping through the halls thinking over and over in your head, "Ghosts aren't real. Ghosts aren't real. Fuck what was that?! Nothing, okay? That was nothing because ghosts aren't real. Ghosts aren't real."
It's not a perfect novel. Apart from the pants-shitting terror, there is Cas to deal with. A lot of other reviews cover how his head space is occasionally annoying to be in. For me, that just felt like realism because if I were a badass, devil-may-care, teenage ghost hunter (if they existed, little bro) then I'd probably be really smarmy and annoying too.
What I really enjoyed was Anna and her relationship with Cas. Anna was like the girl next door. If the girl next door tore livers out of people to play hackey sack with, that is. She's this really lovely, murdersome, complicated ghost character. Although, I have to wonder how much she has to complain about really. I mean, sure, she's a dead horror-monster stuck in a house filled with the spiritual husks of her victims - but she died in a really awesome dress! And it even changes colour from white to red depending on how sadistically evil and murdery she feels at that time. Downside? I can't think of one.
I enjoyed the writing, the cast of characters, the plot and the pacing. I enjoyed pretty much everything about this novel.
I mean, who wouldn't want to spend the next two weeks pondering why the interrobang ever managed to fall out of popular use while roaming the dark halls of their house?
"What the hell was that?!" "Is it going to eat me?!" "Will they hear me scream!?" "Why'd I read that stupid, fucking book... shitamIgoingtodie!?"
McWhorter has written a comprehensible, entrancing overview of how language has developed, changed, morphed and been reinvented millions of times in hMcWhorter has written a comprehensible, entrancing overview of how language has developed, changed, morphed and been reinvented millions of times in human history.
Thanks to MrWhorter, I now know that what I speak and write isn't just English. I speak a dialect of Sydney English circa 2000.
What McWhorter achieves here is a fascinating journey through many, many languages (or regional dialects as McWhorter would have it) that span across the globe and time.
McWhorter is funny. Despite being a book aiming to impart knowledge, McWhorter's personality, flare and passion for the subject comes across very strongly.
Mostly the book is accessible to the layman. Occasionally McWhorter would get ahead of himself and assume a knowledge base of his audience that this little reader didn't have. But for the most part, he translates his knowledge very well across the medium of the written word.
Which, may I add, he seems to dislike. It is the only thing I would challenge him (since I'm not educated enough in linguistics to argue effectively on anything else). He views reading and writing as a barrier to language's natural development. With the introduction of the written word, McWhorter claims, English, Chinese, Japanese etc have been developing far more slowly than what they would if they were "wild" and that they've changed to reflect their written versions more than their spoken versions.
Whilst I certainly understand a linguist's frustration with this - I think literacy is a valid progression to language. Sure, it is a new and (compared to the long history of spoken language) untried version of language but no less valid than any other dialect of English.
Which reminds me that McWhorter's arguments mean that I can no longer deny the friend requests of people who rite liek dis cos thier kool.
Kat Kennedy
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