What stunning artwork! A really short read, but I can't wait to see the next one. This part is like a short glimpse into a really mysterious and very What stunning artwork! A really short read, but I can't wait to see the next one. This part is like a short glimpse into a really mysterious and very different world, but so little is given, it leaves you wishing for more. You'll want to find out how this world works - why do these people look mostly like humans but are not? Why do the real humans dissect, torture and even eat these human-looking characters who talk? Why is the world almost solely made of women? What are the two-tailed talking cats? So many questions, and quite little answers, so it just keeps you impatiently waiting for the next installment.
There's also an interesting point in this story. The fact that they call these pseudo-humans animals and eat them makes you wonder - is this a lot different from how we eat animals? If it makes it so fundamentally wrong to eat them if they talk, is it so much less wrong to eat them when they, well, moo and oink? Where's that line between life and consciousness, our right to manipulate it? All good questions.
Merged review:
What stunning artwork! A really short read, but I can't wait to see the next one. This part is like a short glimpse into a really mysterious and very different world, but so little is given, it leaves you wishing for more. You'll want to find out how this world works - why do these people look mostly like humans but are not? Why do the real humans dissect, torture and even eat these human-looking characters who talk? Why is the world almost solely made of women? What are the two-tailed talking cats? So many questions, and quite little answers, so it just keeps you impatiently waiting for the next installment.
There's also an interesting point in this story. The fact that they call these pseudo-humans animals and eat them makes you wonder - is this a lot different from how we eat animals? If it makes it so fundamentally wrong to eat them if they talk, is it so much less wrong to eat them when they, well, moo and oink? Where's that line between life and consciousness, our right to manipulate it? All good questions....more
This is a sweet book about growing up and letting others grow up too, about sibling relationships and how you must love people in the way where you leThis is a sweet book about growing up and letting others grow up too, about sibling relationships and how you must love people in the way where you let them be themselves and do what's best for them, if you truly love them. Tally Jo and Tempest are twins, and they'll soon turn 13. As if the growing differences between them are not enough, there's also this looming family secret to find out. And they'll find out sooner than they want to.
It's a sweet tale, although I will admit, it did not hook me much, maybe lacked some charm. It's very short, but it wants to say all the right things (and succeeds). It's definitely a good middle grade read.
One thing that was quite funny, but also threw me off a little bit? The man character, a teen (pre-teen?), uses all these weird and kind of awkward euphemisms for swear words... They might be funny to kids? That's probably quite like me. But I just sort of cringed. Examples? Plenty: - What in the jelly sandwich - What in the peanut butter and bananas - How in the creamed corn - Sure as rhubarb pie - Sure as shampoo So what do you think of those? :D...more
Essentially, this is a collection of short stories for every Doctor, which is a refreshing thing, if you're into reading Doctor Who novels. It's nEssentially, this is a collection of short stories for every Doctor, which is a refreshing thing, if you're into reading Doctor Who novels. It's not set in any one particular era of the show.
The first story tells us about how Peter Pan originated as a story. The second one is about fixing the TARDIS at the home of certain surely very Lovecraftian beings. The third story lets us glimpse the making of Norse mythology, the fourth introduces us to a stranded society living in a giant floating tree and having a culture based around... hating the Doctor. Further stories feature truth telling aliens, the Rani and even kindly Daleks! We also get a peek into what the Doctor was up to before he came back to give Rose the punchline about the TARDIS (it also traveling time), also him fighting off your typical sentient microbes and ghosts or getting trapped in a very bad kids mystery book.
3 Reasons To Read This Collection
Reason #1.Are You Between Seasons? [image]
This is a reason pretty much on its own. That's what the novels are essentially for! However, I liked this one particularly because of its diversity in.. well, the Doctors and the companions. And even the villains! You will read about every single one of the Doctors up to the 11th, and there will be many enemies as well. It's the best way to cure your 'missing my Doctor Who' hangups.
Reason #2.It's Written By Different Authors [image]
And that basically means it will probably suit almost any taste. If you didn't like one story, you will probably like another. And if all else fails, the last story is written by Neil Gaiman (If you don't like that, I don't know if anything will save you!)
Reason #3.It's Quite Fun, Actually. And It's Accurate! [image]
Considering I read it in a day during Dewey's... I didn't feel like putting it down. It was fun, as any Doctor Who novel really should be, with enough banter. I was happy about the way the authors dealt with the voice – everything was pretty genuine. Most Doctors were incredibly believable and close to who they were in the show. The book reads fast and won't disappoint. What more is there to ask?
This book has been ABSOLUTELY WOW and if we hang out, I've already told you countless times that you need to read it. If I haven't? Well, YOU NEEDThis book has been ABSOLUTELY WOW and if we hang out, I've already told you countless times that you need to read it. If I haven't? Well, YOU NEED TO READ IT. There. And now onto the reasons why! [If you want to read this with proper formatting, you can read it on my blog here.
Essentially, it's a retelling of Dorian Gray. But it's also very different! First of all, the main characters are girls. Two sisters, Evadne and Dorina could not be more different from each other – Evadne is homely, but strong, loves fencing and is a simple person, while Dorina is a beauty, brimming with life and hoping to experience everything passionately. Over a disagreement, they both get marched off to London to visit their uncle, where they meed Lady Henry, who is quite progressive for her time, and... Well, is a diabolist (it means, summons demons). Things move on from there…
This story is about so many things! Love, passion of life, passion in general... Appreciation of beauty, and even just finding yourself. Also, with impeccable style and fabulousness!
Reason #1. The Sisters' Clashing Characters Propel The Story The story is told in the third person, but between two perspectives – Dorina and Evadne's. What's amazing is that they are basically polar opposites, and the author does a great job representing both of their points of view! Which means, it presents both of their hurts and complaints about the other, and does not defend either one. It's very objective, doesn't demonize or defend either of them either, does not judge. You can't pick a side between Evadne and Dorina, and that's the charm of it. [image] (Wrong story, I know! But the GIF totally works!)
Reason #2. Queer In The 19th Century And Not Bothered Truly in Oscar Wilde's tradition! Most of the characters are queer in this book, and very vibrantly and enjoyably so! It really works for them. I can't tell you whether the quality of the rep was good or not cause it falls out of my realm of experience, but all I know is that these characters were a pleasure to read. There's no pathos about characters being queer ("look! I'm being diverse just to be diverse!" - you know what I'm talking about, some books do this). They just are. In a very honest and natural way. [image]
Reason #3. The Battle Between New And Old The intersection of the 19th and 20th century: challenges ideas of class, dress and society, especially regarding women and sexual orientation, or just societal norms. Dorina and Evadne symbolize two generations – one is willing to embrace it, the other is unwittingly angered about it, and although she'd like to go with it, she can't shake propriety. Lady Henry, meanwhile, challenges every belief that of those times by basically flat-out acting like a man. Of course, I find it hard to believe a woman wouldn't be institutionalized for something like wearing men's clothes back in that day, or consuming tobacco in public. No matter who she was, or how rich she was. So this calls for some suspension of disbelief, but all in good cause. And it certainly spiced up the story! [image]
Reason #4. Demons And Swords! ...And Vigilantes! Come on. Do I have to elaborate? They summon demons and some of them fence. It's brilliant! The demons here aren't evildoers necessarily – they are not always interested in our affairs or meddling with the world. Some of them are pure consciousness that wants merely to appreciate, to enjoy through human eyes. I believe this fits SO well with the Oscar Wilde theme of Dorian Gray – embodies the hedonism so well. You will also read about Lady Henry's society of appreciation of beauty. Would it be really corny to say I appreciated that a lot? (YES.) As for the swords? No, but seriously. It should just speak for itself! [image]
Reason #5. It's Just So Incredibly Epic Just take my word on it!Alright, so you'll have to suspend your disbelief at times, but hey, isn't all urban fantasy kind of like that? I particularly like books like this though! It's not just ever so slightly(and stylishly...)paranormal, it's also a little bit steampunk through being based in Victorian times(I wouldn't say full on steampunk, though), and it's got just the right amount of darkness in it – a mere pinch, all it needs! It reads incredibly comfortably, the characters are great and it moves at just the right pace. What I also liked was all the art appreciation. I mean, it was about an appreciation society! And so much drama between the sisters, and you're unable to take a single side! I absolutely loved this book and I believe you probably will too.
Reason #1.Vasya Is A Great Model Of Female Power [image] Vasya is such an amazing woman! Sure, she's a tomboy, she's rash and doesn't quite think things through, but also? She's brave, she's daring, and through her character and her experiences, we get to see the obstacles women had to face before our times. I have always known that life for women was tough, back in the day. We all know that. But do we ever think just how tough? How limited the self expression and the life, when you're trapped in a tower, and that's normal? When you can't ever say what you want to say, or even feel what you want to feel? Not speaking of the boredom and dullness of such a life. Vasya was a great contrast. She fought, she ran, she rescued. She burned and destroyed. Vasya is the true strong female heroine and I love her for that.
Reason #2.The Slow-Burn Romance [image] To be honest? I was very curious what would become of the romance in this story.This is not the kind of book, nor is Katherine the kind of writer, I feel, who would subject you to flowery love stories. I wouldn't have expected ANY romance in this series at all – apart from the fact that the story was set up from the first book and it was sort of leading up somewhere. And I was so curious about where it would lead! I have to say, I am extremely satisfied with the outcome. I'm not a romance fan, so this was just perfect for me. Subtle and reasonable. I will not say more, for fear of spoilers!
Reason #3.The Pace And The Suspense [image] This book has done what the first one hasn't – namely, it has suspense! If The Bear and the Nightingale was slow at times, you could only say this book was rolling, and always on edge. At one point, I had to stop reading, because I just didn't want to find out what was next – it was too much. Had to put the book down for a day or two!
Reason #4.This Book Is More Adult [image] You can clearly feel that Vasya is no child anymore in this book. If things were a little soft around the edge in The Bear and the Nightingale, they are not so in The Girl in the Tower. The book is much more adult, both in the tone, and the darkness it tells about. I'm normally very sensitive to darkness in books, but this was just right. The ideas it helps express just absolutely worked with it.
Reason #5.Being A Strong Woman Can Be So Many Different Things [image] You'd think that if Vasya, a strong and fighting woman, is in the spotlight here, this book says that the strength is only in fighting? WRONG! I was pleasantly surprised to see extremely strong and capable female characters who were symbolizing the other side of femininity – the soft, submissive side, namely – Vasya's sister Olga. She is no rebel, she does what she's told, she submits to her life and bears her cross with her head held high. But it's no weakness! Olga displays incredible strength in the face of adversity, and she only bears that kind of life because that's the way she can protect everyone she loves, keep her responsibilities. I couldn't claim that either one of these women – Vasya or Olga – is portrayed as the right one! That's the whole brilliance – both are right ways to live. Your strength lies in who you are, and there are many ways to be strong. Because of this, the book feels like a song to the many kinds of femininity there can be.
However... I know I loved this book and it was very easy for me to follow. However, I've grown up close to Russia and I've been exposed to Russian fairytales and mythologies from an early age. I've heard from some Westerners that some of the mythologies are hard to follow and maybe not explained enough – if I hadn't know the fairytale about Koshchei the Deathless, I might have had trouble following too. So if you don't have any background, just read the glossary at the back first.
I thank Del Rey and Katherine Arden for giving me a copy of the book in exchange to my honest opinion.
Reason #1: New Orleans! [image] YES YES YES YES!!I have never been to New Orleans myself, so this book was nothing short of an amazing trip. There's jazz. There's color. There are all the French names. There's tribute to the events of Katrina. There's even voodoo – and not your Hollywood scare, but the actual religion (I hope I'm using the right name!) Not to talk about all of the mythology around it! I was skeptical before reading the book, wondered if it won't be too stereotypical, but when I started reading, I truly loved the setting with all my heart. Besides, I feel like this book wouldn't really be anywhere if not for the New Orleans lore!
Reason #2: The Intrigue This was a very slow burn intrigue, but SUCH a good one. I couldn't work it out till the end. Generally, the book is rather slow going, there are no tumbling events, but it truly goes out with a blast (something I didn't expect!) It keeps a very satisfying pace, and just the right amount of suspense to keep you hooked, but not too stressed. It was a very comfortable read that still kept me on my toes!
Reason #3: Magical Cats? [image] I mean, ever since the cat was introduced, I just saw it coming. I never miss an opportunity to talk about cats in my review, BUT GUYS, one of the main characters can talk to her cat. No, not in words, nothing to cliche, but I promise you THEY TALK AND UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER. This was the absolute fangirl moment for me in this book!!! Head over heels!(I would have put it down as Reason #1 as well, but didn't for fear you wouldn't think I'm being serious in my review. For future reference, I'm ALWAYS serious about cats!!) [image] (I just couldn't leave that one alone.)
Reason #4: Unnameable Terror [image] This book truly does have a villain worthy of Stephen King's IT!Primal, dark, coming from the depths of each of our darkest dreams. J.D. Horn dips into the depths of history of the city to create such a monster, and that's a beautiful way of doing it. I can appreciate a villain like that!! The only reason I remembered to not be scared while reading it was that I was sitting snuggled up in a beanbag, drinking hot chocolate, and the Christmas tree was glowing right beside me reassuringly.
Reason #5: The Secondary Characters Actually, it's pretty hard to tell who is a secondary character and who is not – as you would probably call it 'lead characters' instead of 'main characters'. The book follows quite a few lines, and there are at least three people whose lives you'll see up close, and they're all really likeable. But I loved the secondary characters even more! They are so fleshed out – all different, all unique (I'd dare to say that my favorite was a familiar called Daniel – I don't normally have book crushes, but I'm willing to make exceptions here.) All of this gives the story even more depth.
Overall... [image] This was such an engaging and pleasant read, but also an exercise for the mind(cause I'm still not entirely sure about the ending, it's all twisted up!) I loved the tone – it's a very no-nonsense tone, no silly banter, no fancy invented terms. It's quite down to earth, despite being about clans of witches. But despite my upbeat review, keep in mind that this book is sufficiently, unexpectedly dark. It doesn't really seem so from the tone, but when everything that happens, happens... You'll see. So be prepared! I can truly recommend The King of Bones and Ashes, and absolutely can't wait for the sequel!
I thank 47North and Darlene Chan PR for giving me a copy of The King of Bones and Ashes in exchange to my honest opinion.
This book is soooo good with cocoa. It's like watching a sitcom, but also reading it. I don't know how to explain! If you know the story of the BeThis book is soooo good with cocoa. It's like watching a sitcom, but also reading it. I don't know how to explain! If you know the story of the Bennet sisters, you will not be surprised with the plot, as it follows more or less the same line, but what I liked was how past-day social situations were translated into modern day equivalents! I will not list them out for you, cause spoilers, but some of them were quite accurate, and others? Downright funny. I liked the characters as well, and Lizzie's family? You'll hate them so much you'll love them (...how does that even work..?) I must warn you though, approach this one only when you've let some time pass after your last reading of P&P because you might dislike certain facets of this retelling (I've heard that from a couple of my friends). Or if you are a loyal fan of the original, just keep in mind that this is a retelling, and it will change certain parts of the Austen story. Other than that, grab your cocoa and enjoy!
Leverage is a Youtube video blogger who gives guys advice on how to approach The One. But frankly? It would be better if he didn't. Because Lev lives Leverage is a Youtube video blogger who gives guys advice on how to approach The One. But frankly? It would be better if he didn't. Because Lev lives with his mom, who grounds him at pretty much age 30 and he has absolutely no connection with the realities of life. Unfortunately, Lev should be taking his own advice, cause he is in love with Emma. Which he dutifully does, to his credit. But for some reason, it's not working out...
So that's what it about. How much I liked it? Well... The book wasn't funny, although maybe it was supposed to. It was also supposed to show the main character as a guy completely oblivious to realities of life and the female mind. However... I don't believe he was written well enough to come across that way. Sometimes he just seemed normal, relatable. Sometimes it seemed like the author actually believes all this stereotypical stuff that he writes about women, and as a woman? It made me kind of annoyed (hey, I hate shoe shopping. And I don't like being talked about as some unknowable species, easily influenced by a change of mood. I'm a person, please and thank you.)
In the end, the story does take a quite turn and has quite a satisfying and surprising ending. It comes off being deeper than I had expected from this book. However... I still don't feel like it saves it for me. Very barely, 3 stars. I don't think this is Graham Parke's first book, but it feels like it could be. Parke has potential, but I didn't quite see it in this book.
I thank Graham Parke for providing me with a free copy of the book in exchange to my honest review. Sorry it wasn't a very good one!
Carolyn grew up in slightly different circumstances than most people. She and 12 other kids from her neighbourhood got in the way of an assassinatiCarolyn grew up in slightly different circumstances than most people. She and 12 other kids from her neighbourhood got in the way of an assassination attempt of a... well, ageless being. And ended up being adopted by him and taught the secrets of the world. But now... Father is gone. And Carolyn and the rest must search for him, because what is to come if he doesn't turn up might not be the end of the world, but it would surely be the end of the world as we know it. I might want to add that Carolyn is not dying to find Father, because a loving father is not something he could be called...
This book was amazing on so many levels.The incredibly dark humor. The depth of the fantasy that draws on mythologies and paints a vivid and primal world at its core, that is masquerading as our normal world to the eyes of all the rest of us. The scope of everything in this book is so huge! The ideas, the histories... I can't possibly imagine how it all fits between the covers of a book, because this is a full universe. The Library at Mount Char remains one of the best books that I read in 2017, and I'm sure I'll read it again. If you've enjoyed Neil Gaiman's and Stephen King's writing in the past, you will almost surely love this book – as it reads as a mixture of those two styles. And by far the best thing about it? I've been had so many times by it. Never saw things coming. I bet it will feel even more so on my second reading... It's exquisite. It's incredibly smart, witty, dark, ironic and so very true to life, although as far from our common reality as you could possibly imagine.
I must warn though, that The Library at Mount Char contains many triggers – violence, murder, rape, animal violence, violence of animals against humans... It can be gory, although the humour certainly lifts the mood. But as a sensitive reader myself, I can tell you it's well worth it.
Kids, demons, a dystopian world. Sure sounded like an interesting premise, but... Maybe it's just not for me. The storytelling is incredibly repetitivKids, demons, a dystopian world. Sure sounded like an interesting premise, but... Maybe it's just not for me. The storytelling is incredibly repetitive, survival is presented like some Hercule Poirot mystery, and it's all just a bit drab. I might have liked this as a child - but it didn't keep me interested enough now. I felt like DNFing quite a few times, and even while being manga, what with a page taking me no longer than 10 seconds, if even that, I still couldn't read fast enough. Not going to be following through with this series.
I thank the publisher for an early copy in exchange to my honest review....more
Shiver shiver, tremble tremble. I am not nervous about writing this review at all. I do not have any of my typical book was too good to write aShiver shiver, tremble tremble. I am not nervous about writing this review at all. I do not have any of my typical book was too good to write a review for it jumbles. Nope. Feeling at my most confident here. *escapes* Can we just agree to make this book as famous as possible and leave it at that? No? I'll have to elaborate?.. Oh.. Alright…
So... We've got a spaceship that has escaped a dying Earth centuries ago.Naturally, it's failing. Of course, due to various constrictions, combined with pure human nature, the ship is authoritarian, slavery-driven and as violent an environment as can be. We find ourselves following the story through the eyes of several of the characters, but most of them are based on the lower decks, as the 'lowest form of life'. You can see where this is about to get challenging. We explore life through their eyes and search for all sorts of meaning, explore all sorts of existences.
So let's just look at the reasons of why I would recommend this book, and let me tell you in advance, there was not a thing I was unhappy with it. This book is PURE AMAZEMENT and I think absolutely everyone should read it. Yes, it was that good and important.
Reason #1.The Book Is Diverse Without Appearing To Try To, Plus, It's #OwnVoices [image] I don't know if I'm making it clear, but I think you know what I mean. Diversity is important, and it's sought out right now – but sometimes authors only try 'to make the quota' – and so insert diverse characters into their books as placeholders. They're just sort of there, but they feel so forced. This is not the case at all in this book! I think it's partly because it's #OwnVoices, plus – it's just so well done emotionally. The diversity is just there. It doesn't try to convert you, it doesn't try to fight a cause, it doesn't try to explain itself. It's just there. And it's so naturally diverse you can't help understanding it, relating to it, championing it. It's not diverse in the placeholder sense, it throws away any labels! Even the labels diverse groups use for themselves. It's diverse on, well, pretty much molecular level, as I'd say metaphorically? You don't have to belong to a group to exist and be validated – it's alright if you belong to a group of 'you'. That's enough.
Reason #2.The Ship Is An Amazing Analogy Of Captivity I found this most fascinating. Yes, a spaceship is a spaceship, it's part of a scifi story. But, at the same time, I felt like it symbolized so much more! Being indentured means there simply being no means of escape, wherever you go, whatever you do. And what better symbol of that is there than a dying spaceship? I feel like this draws an amazing comparison to the life of an enslaved, trapped person. Your life is limited to not even being able to control the choices regarding your own body, much less choices of how your life progresses. This is truly a song to all enslaved peoples, not just slavery in the history of America. My heart wept at the tale, and I believe, so will yours.
Reason #3.I Have Never Read A More Relatable Tale Of Slavery [image] I have read stories on slavery. Even written by the slaves themselves, stories of their escape. Fictional stories too. And although I could feel empathy towards them, they are stories from another life – a life elsewhere, a life in a totally different time. That automatically makes it harder for us to relate. But a life almost like our own? In a technical environment, and yet – enslaved? That is so much more approachable. And it's also so well-written in terms of depicting emotions that I feel it taught me much more about captivity than any of the tales I've read before.
Reason #4.Emotion Even Among The Rubble [image] I could have said love. But I don't want to make this cheap. This is no love story.This is not about a love story. Yet a love story is ever-present. And I'm not talking about between man and woman, or lovers, or whatever you have it. I am talking about human love, soul love – love of the bigger kind. No pain and suffering can be survived without it, and this book is so good about showing it. Human affection, human bonds. It blooms like a flower in the wastelands. It charms you with the way it does. And it gives you hope in a whole world full of destruction.
Reason #5.Non-Neurotypical Characters It's hard to say, and I'm obviously groping in the dark here, but I think the main character Aster might be on the spectrum, or at least some kind of non-neurotypical. As everything of the diverse kind in this book, it's not overtly mentioned – but not because it's taboo, rather because it's cultural of the ship – there are no such concepts in this society (I'm not sure the concept of 'woman' is even present in this society, as the lower deck slaves are without an exception all women.)The way Aster is, is not treated as a deficiency in the book, it's treated as a way to be. It's explained so understandably that you will relate and empathise even if you're nothing like Aster yourself. And it's not limited to the main character either – Giselle, Aster's best friend, suffers from mental illness bouts as well, and it's also presented in a great way, easy to pick up and understand. None of the characters are even looked down on for the way they are, whatever they're like.
Overall... I could go on. The plot, the setting, the writing, the way you're transported into this incredible world.Keep in mind I listened to this book on a read-back app! And yet it still felt every bit as magical as if I was reading it (usually, books read back to you by a mechanized voice are harder to get into.) But I believe you should discover this book for yourselves. I would recommend it to anyone and everyone, even if you're not so much into scifi – it's more character-driven anyway. Scifi is only the setting, the backdrop. The real stuff you're reading about is the condition of being human in a society that is horribly skewed for particular kinds of be.
Something for the people who have read this already:(view spoiler)[I will admit I am a little puzzled about the ending, so feel free to discuss it with me more in the comments if you've read it. (hide spoiler)]
I thank Rivers Solomon and Akashic Books for providing me with a free copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. I already can't wait for Rivers Solomon's next book!
I both liked and disliked this book... Took me ages to get invested in it (about half the book...), but then it got interesting. I feel like it's becaI both liked and disliked this book... Took me ages to get invested in it (about half the book...), but then it got interesting. I feel like it's because midway, the book changes quite drastically. It starts involving FEELINGS. Love, revenge. Before that? I knew as much as you do what was going on.
There are reasons why I dislike high fantasy (or at least high-ish) fantasy, but I still keep trying... I should stop. I am not comfortable with a crucial thing most high fantasies do, and that's dropping 50 inconsequential names of legendary kings and beasts on me in the first page, none of which pretty much relate to the story at all, are described or are even to do with mythology - so basically, I end up with a jumble of interesting sounding syllables that mean nothing to me. Am I weird? This was a big problem for me with this book, and a reason I found to get it hard to get into at first.
But that isn't the only reason this book didn't hook first. The storytelling is basically like a fairytale. In one sentence they talk about a thing, in the next sentence, it's suddenly twelve years later and the thing has been done. A baby basically left at the doorstep suddenly becomes dearer than anyone the characters known before. People love each other although they've talked three times and disliked each other during those dialogues. They meet kings and talk with them as of they've always known them... Granted, it does give a fairytale vibe, but I do not enjoy this kind of storytelling because it's incredibly jumpy, and it also feels quite terribly unnatural. I had trouble paying attention.
But when it gets past that point, I must admit it does get interesting, and quite dark. And meaningful. If this book was like this in its entirety, I would have surely given it 4 stars! But I almost dropped it at 38%. So 3 stars it is. But if you like high fantasy, I'm sure you'll like this!
What is this? Evelina is giving you another 5 reasons to read something space related? What are all these reasons all about lately?? (*faints*) ThWhat is this? Evelina is giving you another 5 reasons to read something space related? What are all these reasons all about lately?? (*faints*) This time I'm going to talk about yet another non-American sci-fi. If you want nicer formatting read it on my blog. Enjoy! ★★★✬☆ 3.5 stars
Reason #1. IT'S A SLICE OF LIFE, BUT THAT LIFE IS SEVERAL HUNDRED YEARS LATER AND MUCH WEIRDER THAN YOURS.
If you can still imagine that as a slice of life? Granted, there are no aliens (any I can think of, at least...), but there are robots, half-robots, computer generated life forms... Basically, anything on the spectrum of human and machine. The ways this society meshes are pretty amazing!
Reason #2. #DIVERSITY IS ALL AROUND, BUT IT'S ALSO COMPLETELY NATURAL
You know how diversity is almost always forced in books these days? It's because it has to 'fit a quota'.We all know how much fun that is. And want to know why this isn't like that? Because it's actually written by a non-American.(Here she goes again with her "Read A Non-American Sci-Fi For Once™" stuff...)First of all, the story is based in Israel. How many other scifis can you think of with that setting? Second, there are just so many lifeforms – like I mentioned earlier, there's basically anything from natural to synthetic life, even life that's purely computerized and has no body. Third – society is formed from many nationalities of people who moved there as immigrants centuries ago. None of them are Western. Simply speaking? LGBT in this book is the smallest and most natural kind of diversity, because the rest of... the diversity... is so diverse you can't even.(Way to go with that sentence.)
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Reason #3. THE STRIGOI
So basically... The Strigoi is pretty much the best thing in the book! It's a kind of space vampire..? That feeds on data, not on blood. It will erase a person's memory only to gorge itself up on it. Nobody really knows what they are or why they're here. Either it's a former bioweapon... Or it's a means for other lifeforms to coexist. I won't spoil it for you.
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Reason #4. ALL THE SCIFI AND CULTURAL REFERENCES!
I barely caught half of them. If you've read a lot of scifi or are familiar with the smart pop of this and the last century, you'll be pleasantly surprised. The book is full of words like ubicked, Urbonas death machine, Shambleau, etc. There's even an invented Asteroid pidgin which I thought was pretty amazing.
Reason #5. THE WORLD ACTUALLY WENT INTO A NON-WESTERN DIRECTION
There's just something so cool about scifi going there. I live in a Western society. That's not what I want to see in my books. I want something outlandish. I want to see something that makes me ponder diffferent possibilities. I'm so tired of the world being only America! Write about the rest of the world please! Yes, we exist too!
However...
Admittedly, nothing really happens. It feels like what it is – a lot of different novelletes or even short stories, welded together into a book. It tells about a world that is very different from yours, but also strikingly similar. It doesn't tell of a plot though. And I felt like that's where the story lost some of its charm. That's why only 3.5 stars!
I thank Tachyon Publications and Edelweiss for giving me a free copy in exchange to my honest review.
4.5 stars Do you like petticoats, Victorians and magic? What about a female heroine, who, while a little bit lost and flustered, is kickass 4.5 stars Do you like petticoats, Victorians and magic? What about a female heroine, who, while a little bit lost and flustered, is kickass despite not knowing it herself? And would you care for a would-be love triangle that is forbidden in more ways than I care to list?
If you said YES, YES and YES, then I don't understand why you are STILL not reading this series. Especially seeing as how it's called Industrial Magic??? Even if I didn't know what it was about, the name of the series alone would hook me! It's really hard for me to review this book because I'm evidently a fangirl. I reviewed the first part of this series when I was still but a wee blogger lass, and I do feel like maybe my review didn't really do it justice or reach a big enough audience. But that still doesn't explain why this book isn't more widely known?? So since this is the second book in the series, I'm not going to tell you much about the story. For that you'd have to read the first book. Plus, I don't want to take away the pleasure! Instead, I'm going to try and tell you why I love this series as much as I do.
Reason #1. The Magic System
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Now I'm not your biggest specialist on magic systems in books, as I don't tend to read a whole lot of fantasy. But correct me if I'm wrong – I'm not sure magic is used as a means of production, powering engines and clocks and basically running the economy in any other fictional world? Or at least, maybe not in this way? Magic in this book is not a tool to assert status, to get your own end. Magic is almost an affliction, cause it means your only place in society is a... rich prisoner. The Magi are not allowed to marry (for reasons I will not spoil), nor are they allowed to even stay with their families. They are rich and strong (but not really powerful), they are the victims of their own power which they have not chosen to wield, and they can not run from it. But they can try. And this is largely what the second book in the series is about – trying to outwit your fate.
Reason #2. The Heroine
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It might just be me, but I feel like Charlotte, our main character, is just the right amount of wit, smarts, capability, and yet childish egoism, naivete and klutziness. She's a wonderful heroine! She makes an equal amount of mistakes and blunders as feats. Which she tends to discount as belonging to her own abilities. She does not know her own feelings. Charlotte is as lost in her own wishes, her state and her romantic inclinations as any traditional Victorian novel heroine. I absolutely love that about her. Perhaps I feel like she's a little bit like me.
Reason #3. This Series Could Go On And On
And I hope it will! It's one of those series like The Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch – urban fantasies that have their own spectacular world that you want to get lost in again and again, and you're safe in the knowledge that it's not one of those books which has three parts and then ends. Oh no, this series will hopefully go on and on till I get tired of reading it, which, in turn, I hope to never do! So bring on the drama.
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Dear Emma Newman, please keep writing this series.If only just for meeee! (I know, I am so selfish...) I know I will keep waiting for the third book just as much as I've waited for the second one.
I thank Tor Books and Emma Newman for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange to my honest review.
I have buddy read Attachments with my blogger bestie Jackie @ Death By Tsundoku, and you can also find my review here. The review is arranged in anI have buddy read Attachments with my blogger bestie Jackie @ Death By Tsundoku, and you can also find my review here. The review is arranged in an interview manner, so you will find Jackie’s questions and my answers.
I know this is your first Rainbow Rowell novel. Did you enjoy it enough to continue to read her work?
Okay, so. This is what it feels like to read Attachments:
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It's just so damn refreshing! It's like a cold drink on a hot day. Incredibly easily readable, flowing and so easily relatable. I am definitely going to read more!
Rainbow Rowell is known for authoring books featuring strong character development and relationships. Attachments is her debut novel. Do you think it delivered strong character development and relationships? Why or why not?
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Oh yeah, I think it did! The thing is, Rainbow Rowell just gives you so much to identify with.Surely almost all of us, at least the ladies, have felt like we're not as graceful as we were at age 16. Surely we've all had a nothing-job, the way Lincoln does. Surely most of us will have felt unloved, singled out and pitied at somebody else's wedding. And I believe that that's why Rowell's characters come to life so easily! We can't help seeing ourselves in them, identifying with them. And the way those characters resolve their problems, make decisions and changes in their lives, make you believe like maybe you'll overcome those same things as well. Even if you're still struggling with them.
Out of all these characters, in my opinion, I think it's Jennifer who had the most growth in a very problematic area. (view spoiler)[Not all of us are ready to bear and raise children just because we are women. It takes way much more bravery to even ponder becoming a mother. I really respect Jennifer for what she went through. (hide spoiler)] Although that's not to discount Lincoln's growth! Or even Beth's, who also ended up making quite a few tough decisions.
Both Lincoln and Beth are stuck in some ethical dilemmas. What do you think of the way they were asked to act, and how they reacted to these situations? Would you have made similar decisions or different ones?
That's the funny thing about this book – I just connected to it in so many ways. Most situations the characters are dealing with, have more or less happened to me. Some problems were literally ones I've had or even currently am having. So I was always on the characters' side! I think they resolved everything very well. What else could they have done?
Our characters are only described physically when others are describing them, and it's not until late in the book we start to get these details. Did the book descriptions match the characters you saw in your head? What was different for you?
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There's just this thing about me :D whenever characters are being described, I sort of... Almost always throw that description to the dumpster and still imagine them the way I want to!(So boo. That must be annoying for a writer to know about me!) Of course, I keep the main characteristics (such as Jennifer being plus size, or Beth being super tall) because they matter in terms of the story, but for everything else? My imagination, my rules! However, I do admit I was surprised about Lincoln being bulky and strong, cause I first imagined him as your typical nerd – skinny and wiry. I'll admit I had to change my image of him!
One more thing I have to mention about this book, when it comes to appearances. ALL THAT CURLY HAIR LOVE! We don't have enough of that in books!
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(It's funny though that Beth says tall guys are attracted to short women. Where I come from, nobody's attracted to short women. It's all about the long legs. Weird!)
Jennifer and Beth's emails appear in the email filter based on trigger words. I admit, I spent a good chunk of my time trying to figure out what words triggered them falling into the email filter. Did you do this? Did you ever question whether the emails really should qualify for the filter?
Ha! I actually didn't. I'm such a gullible reader!(view spoiler)[By the end the girls start using symbols to edit out certain letters in certain words in order not to get caught in the filter, so maybe it's that? (hide spoiler)] But you have a very good point, actually. I'm not sure all of their emails would have qualified to be in the filter!
Which characters were your favorite? Why?
Oh my gosh, ALL OF THEM. I couldn't possibly pick! Like I've mentioned before, I could identify with both Lincoln, and Beth, and especially Jennifer. So I couldn't name a favorite!
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Which characters do you think were the most important to Lincoln's development? Are there any characters you would have cut from the story?
Nope, absolutely none – I don't think the story had any 'spares'! As for important ones, I think Doris did a big job of allowing Lincoln to feel more at ease and to get him out of his cave. I loved that relationship so much as well – not only a platonic one, but one between two very different individuals, different ages, too! It was very beautiful.
So that's it for my review!
I truly do recommend Attachments to everyone. Not only is it easy to read, fun, emotional, but also such an amazing gulp of nostalgia – it's all about the 90's and early Y2K. It reminded me of my school years so much! Aside from that, the tone of the book is such you will not see anymore. It might be a little bit more touchy, could even offend someone (people take much greater care trying to not offend sensitive people in books today), but I feel like that's part of the charm – it's very genuine that way, and it's so very 90's indeed. I loved this book, and if you haven't read it, you totally should.
When I was offered the chance to review this nonfiction collection about disability, I just couldn't say no. Bring on these topics. I gotta make diWhen I was offered the chance to review this nonfiction collection about disability, I just couldn't say no. Bring on these topics. I gotta make dialogue about this.
And I was not wrong to accept. It's Just Nerves is a very short and sobering experience. It's not my first time reading #ownvoices disability texts, but as every time, there is always something new. So why should you read this?
I think It's Just Nerves should be read by all – healthy or disabled, #spoonie or not. And especially if you're just a regular person who pretty much goes to the clinic only for sprained ankles or a bad cold. Because there's this sad thing that happens to regular people like us – to people who have never experienced being incapacitated, frail, exhausted – and that thing is called ableism.
Most of the time, we don't know ableism even exists. This is true for most of us. We have our own problems. And surely enough, our problems are always misjudged, always disregarded. We are the center of our world. Which is why we often do, excuse my language, bad shit, for example, make a disabled person move over to we could sit down with our kid (actual quoted occurrence from the book.) Or we call out a person who ‘looked at us weird’ although they literally can't move their face into a different configuration cause they are partly paralyzed. We judge someone as being lazy for wearing ‘sloppy clothes’, not considering that maybe it costs them so much to even put those on. And these are just small examples – ableism manifests in little things, such as even thinking ‘oh, that person should just go on a diet already’ or even ‘I can also pretend I have a headache’. All you who have never done this, raise your hand? Point made.
I want to personally apologize to all those people who have suffered slander, pain or even mere inconvenience on our part – from us as the society of healthy people (although I sometimes lean towards a spoonie myself, but that's beside the point). I will always try to help and understand, and yet, I will not hesitate to apologize for the rest of us who don't. Because if I started a conversation about what's wrong with this society, I could go on for days – it's not even about the lack of comfort, understanding or convenient facilities we're talking about. It's the fact that our society views a disabled or chronically ill person as a lesser being – denying the fact that it might be their identity. That they might want to be accepted for who they are – without having to be ‘exorcised’ first. That our ‘mindfulness’ will never become true soulfulness until we start looking outwards instead of inwards.
And this is why you read this book. It's shocking. It's tough. It might be political. It will be rough. But it's time to stop shielding yourself from your comfortable reality – come out and face the facts. Stop the hate. Learn more about your neighbour.
I have received this book in exchange for my honest review through Poetic Book Tours. Thank you!
Continuing my friendship with Anne with the third book in the series, I had the same surefire calm vacation experience as I've done reading the ones bContinuing my friendship with Anne with the third book in the series, I had the same surefire calm vacation experience as I've done reading the ones before. There's not much to be said about a new Anne book - other than the fact that if you've enjoyed one of them, you'll probably enjoy another too. There was only one thing slightly off in this one for me - it's supposed to be a book about Anne in college. And yet - Anne's college goes by without... any college. I feel like we don't hear about it at all. It's just her life during the summers and her house. (view spoiler)[And what's this about killing dogs and cats?.. (hide spoiler)]
However, I have to admit that the romance is absolutely perfect! I'm not a romance reader, so I thought Anne and Gilbert's love story to be done absolutely perfectly in its modesty and minimal approach. It's just so heartwarming, true and cozy. Just what I would have imagined for Anne!
I can't really place this book - at first I thought it was YA, but as I read on, I realized that it's much too gory, violent and sexual to be considerI can't really place this book - at first I thought it was YA, but as I read on, I realized that it's much too gory, violent and sexual to be considered YA. And yet, the tone is definitely YA. New Adult maybe?
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Regardless of what genre it is, it had a really good premise. It could deliver. But... it didn't. There were a lot of good story threads, but they were either dropped, or just loosely rounded up. There could have been so much more world building as well.
Thing is, when I finished reading, I wasn't quite sure what I'd just read. Was it a young adult story? Was it mainly a dystopian tale? Was it meant to follow the characters, or was it just like a jumble of unfinished short stories? It felt like a lot of story lines were started, and started well, but never quite came to fruition. The idea of people gorging on someone else's shadows and destroying society sounds amazing. The domes and the towns behind moving trains, so nobody could enter? Also great... never went anywhere. The army of women tired of being victims? Also never went anywhere. So many threads that could have been so good! Ultimately, I just feel like it was too short and didn't have a clear direction or a clear audience in mind.
Love that cover though!
I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review....more
Evelina | AvalinahsBooks
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