brittmariasbooks's Reviews (1.45k)

Percy's and Annabeth's journey through Tartarus is just so incredible. Bob and Small Bob and Damasen are so great. Their sacrifice will not be forgotten. The journey was so hard and asked so much of them but the persevered.

During this reread, I had a harder time reading other points of view. However, most if not all of the Seven go through so much character development! Hazel learns to control the Mist. Piper learns sword fighting. Hazel gives Piper sword fighting tips and Piper helps Hazel with the Mist by advising to show what people want to see. They learn a great deal from each other and it's lovely to see. Frank really grows even more as a leader than he did in The Son of Neptune. Although, I do dislike Frank's "growth spurt" because he just suddenly turned hot and I feel iffy about it. But him becoming a praetor is so well deserved. Leo being thrown onto Ogygia and his interactions with Calypso and making the promise that he will come back. And Jason finally figuring out that he wants to go to Camp Half-Blood to be with Piper and Leo. I love their growth.

I really enjoyed Muse of Nightmares. I finished reading Strange the Dreamer with a lot - A LOT - of questions. And I'm happy to say the Muse answered them all, and in a satisfying way as well. I was here for the ride and it was quite a wild ride, especially the last half. At times, it could feel long and that not a lot was happening. I had the same feeling while reading Strange but Laini Taylor's writing and storytelling make it all pay off in the end.

Een fijne hertaling van deze klassieker in romanvorm met mooie illustraties van Sophie Pluim. De vertaling las goed weg. Ik heb het boek binnen 24 uur kunnen lezen :)

Ik was een beetje oncomfortabel met het leeftijdsverschil. Julia is 13 en Romeo wordt 20 jaar oud geschat, yikes, maar ja het verhaal is ook al een aantal eeuwen oud. De boodschap is wel van alle tijden.

Talia Hibbert has done it again! Act Your Age, Eve Brown is a funny and steamy romance and I enjoyed every minute I read it. I loved the setting in the Bed & Breakfast. All the characters were loveable and the characters from the other two books make cameos which were nice.

If you are looking for your next Romance novel, definitely pick these books up!

(Also will these Skybriar books be a spin-off of the Brown Sisters? With the twins mostly? See [b:Untitled|56870366|Untitled (Skybriar, #1)|Talia Hibbert|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|88918137])

Marie Lu is an amazing character writer. I loved the discussions June and Day had in Prodigy. It made sense how their points of view differed because of how and where they grew up. I also enjoy how Lu goes into a more grey story instead of a clear black and white story. I will elaborate on this in the spoiler section.

Spoiler

I loved that after the idealisation of The Colonies it is just very much Last Stage Capitalism. It is not this ideal country Day thought it would be. Like Kaede said in some regards it might be better, in others, it's worse.

I found the Tess/Day romance was unnecessary. It made for a nice contrast with the June/Anden romance like these are the pairings that might seem more obvious on first sight than June/Day but I liked how the relationship between Day and Tess was more like siblings in the first book. The book could have done without it for me.

The ending really dropped a bombshell with Day's diagnosis. And I am so annoyed with him for not telling the truth to June. Because he probably thinks it's the best for her, and that she will get to be with a guy he thinks is a good match for her, not telling her takes away her choice and it just annoys me so much in romances in books.

As for the assassination plot of Elector Anden I loved how grey it was and how difficult the decisions were for both June and Day. They really had to go for the least obvious choice, especially Day, he just did it all on trust. But right now it seems to be the right choice and I wonder what Champion will be like. I wonder if Lu will let Day die or if there will be some miracle solution. I wonder if June will become Princeps or a Senator. And I feel like June will definitely figure out that Day is sick.

Een goede vriendin van mij beschreef Dantes goddelijke komedie: de hel als een "self-insert fanfiction" en ik ben het volledig met haar eens. In deze Italiaanse klassieker uit de viertiende eeuw reist Dante door de hel met zijn gids Vergilius. Dante komt zowel bekende figuren op de Romeinse geschiedenis (zoals Vergilius) als tijdgenoten tegen.

Het verhaal bestaat uit 34 zangen en 365 voetnoten, en als liefhebber van Grieks/Romeinse mythologie en geschiedenis in het algemeen waren de voetnoten voor mij een feestje. Het voorwoord bevat wat informatie over de schrijver en de tijdgeest die mij erg hielpen het verhaal te begrijpen. De illustraties door Sophie Pluim waren geweldig en lichtelijk huiveringwekkend (op de beste manier) dat goed bij de sfeer van het verhaal paste. Bovendien is de eerste illustratie met alle negen kringen van de hel leuk om tijdens het lezen te bekijken waar in de hel je je met Dante bevindt.

Mocht jij net als ik dol zijn op geschiedenis en Grieks/Romeinse mythologie en nieuwsgierig zijn naar hoe een "self-insert fanfiction" uit de veertiende eeuw eruit ziet, dan kan ik je Dantes goddelijke komedie: de hel volledig aanraden!

This reread was needed because I did not remember much of The Dark Prophecy and confused some elements of the third book with this one. But what joy are Leo, Calypso and Apollo to follow.

I totally forgot about Emmie and Jo and the Waystation but I loved them. Former Hunters of Artemis who quit the Hunt to grow old together, like yes, please. I adore the two gryphons, Heloise and Abelard, who Calypso and Apollo rescue from the emperor/zoo. This side quest was also nice since Calypso and Apollo's friendship really began to grow because of their mission.

Apollo goes through so much growth. His friendship with Meg is especially anchoring him in his humanity. And I am ready to see him grow even more.

I am excited to reread the third book since I also remember nothing from it.

I was very curious to read a book by Dr. Seuss. His name appears a lot in references, however, in the Netherlands Dr. Seuss never became as big as Annie M.G. Schmidt, for example (or at least during my childhood).

Even though The Lorax was first published in 1971, its message about the environment and preserving it is as relevant as ever. It explains very simply how greed and capitalism can harm nature and have a great impact on all that live there. So unless you care, nothing will get better. I can really recommend this book if you are looking for a short, wonderful story to tell yourself or your child that you should care about the environment.

2,5 sterren

Het had z'n momenten, maar het had echt niet zo lang hoeven zijn, naar mijn mening. Ik heb 'm door wilskracht uitgelezen, deels om te kunnen zeggen dat ik Anna Karenina heb gelezen. Het is een oké boek en ik ben blij dat ik 'm eindelijk uit heb. Ik ga nu de verfilming kijken, haha.

Ook wil ik vermelden dat deze editie van Rainbow weliswaar uit 2020 komt, de vertaling van Wils Huisman komt uit 1965. Dit was heel erg wennen omdat men toen dialoog en gedachten tussen en van personages anders uitdrukten. Het went aardig snel maar ik had eigenlijk een recentere vertaling verwacht toen ik het boek aanschafte.

I made such a good decision to reread all nine volumes of Saga. It is one of my favourite stories and I cannot wait for it to continue. I love this family and I just want them to be happy.

Saga is about Alana and Macro, two soldiers from opposite armies caught in a war that has spread across the galaxy. The two fall in love and have a child, Hazel. Hazel tells us her parents' story and her own. I love how she narrates the story. I love seeing her grow up.

It is fantastical and heartfelt and I could not recommend this graphic novel enough.