brittmariasbooks's Reviews (1.45k)

I loved it! some parts might have been a bit far fetched but I still loved it! Laia, Elias and Helene are wonderful characters! I can't wait to listen to the next book in 2018....

Oh I don't know how to rate this one. Might come back on it.

But it's a solid penultimate book! I love these characters more than anything. And the path's they are on have gripped me. I cannot wait to start the fourth book. So that's exactly what I'll do.

The Big Book of Pride Flags is an adorable picture book that explains all the pride flags and the meaning behind the colours. It is beautifully illustrated and I loved it.

I think this book gave me everything I wanted from the finale. Except maybe an epilogue. I really want a story of the characters a bit more in their future. Who knows, maybe we will get it someday.

First of all, the characters are amazing. I would read anything with them. Laia, Elias and Helene. I love them. I wish we could have gotten a few more scenes with Laia and Helene being friends because I adored the ones that we got.

My heart hurts with all the losses. I don't know what I expected since Sabaa Tahir also killed Izzi in book 2 but I just really wanted Darin and Harper to live. I wanted Avitas and Helene to be happy together. Helene deserves to be happy.

Speaking of Helene. Helene is such an amazing representation of women who do not want children. Her main biggest thing is her love for her Gens, her people, the Empire, etc. She loves her nephew with her whole heart. She just doesn't want any children of her own.

I love that Laia becomes a Kehanni like she always wanted. And I am so happy that she and Elias finally can be together in peace.

I really enjoyed the Ember Quartet. I also really recommend the audiobooks. I'm in love with Jack Farrar's voice. I made such a great decision to reread the first three books before finally reading A Sky Beyond the Storm.

Sabaa Tahir's writing is just so good. The battle scenes were movies in my head. The quiet character moments made me fall in love with the characters. They are so well written, very distinguishable. All have their dreams, the hopes that they fight for.

I really recommend the Ember Quartet if you are looking for a YA fantasy series with a little bit of romance, great fight scenes. But also, if you want to have your heart destroyed. Like good books do.

A Thief Among the Trees is a cute prequel for the Ember Quartet by Sabaa Tahir. This prequel follows Elias and Helene and their old friend Tavi

Spoiler

who got name-dropped in A Sky Beyond the Storm

.

I think it was a nice look at how the missions as Fivers was. The story mostly plants seeds for Elias' character later on in the books. So I do recommend reading some of the books first before reading the graphic novels.

I really enjoyed The Rest of Us Just Live Here! It's been on my shelves for years now and I finally picked it up. I really liked the concept of following 'normal' people in a science fiction world. There is also a lot of mental health representation that I did not expect but living in a world like that does seem reasonable.

If you love superhero movies and the civilian perspective, this book might be a good choice for you!

This book was recommended to me by Claudia, a fellow member of the Fanatieke Nederlandse Lezers group on GoodReads. It was one of her favourite books of 2021 and I can see why!

During the first part of the book, I thought it was interesting but I could not really get into it. This all changed when a started the second part. It hooked me. This book is a rollercoaster. It explores ambition at all costs. And it was such an interesting read. It has been a while since I really hated a character (but in a good way, I love to hate him). And the story is told in a very interesting way as well because of the point of views we get.

I could not resist this Read Now on NetGalley after finishing Oluo's book So You Want to Talk About Race. Thank you to NetGalley, Seal Press and Ijeoma Oluo for the advanced reader copy. All opinions expressed in this review are mine.

In Mediocre, Ijeoma Oluo dives into white male supremacy in America in the last century. Oluo covers various topics from social justice movements to sports. Describing how mediocre white men feel entitled to power and frustrated when that power is not granted to them. The book discusses the violent masculinity that is still found to define what it means to be a man. The book also shows how everyone, including white men, is disadvantaged by white male supremacy. Mediocre white men are giving opportunities for which women and people of colour have to excel in all aspects, leading to mediocre leadership in most if not all areas. I hope a systematic change will come showing men that it is okay to be kind and that truly the best people get the job. Until then, read Mediocre to learn how we got here.

Chapters:
Introduction: Works According to Design
Cowboys and Patriots: How the West was Won
For Your Benefit, in Our Image: The Centering of White Men in Social Justice Movements
The Ivy League and the Tax Eaters: White Men's Assault on Higher Education
We Have Far Too Many Negroes: White America's Bitter Dependency on People of Color
Fire the Women: The Convenient Use and Abuse of Women in the Workplace
Socialists and Quota Queens: When Women of Color Challenge the Political Status Quo
Go Fucking Play: Football and the Fear of Black Men
Conclusion: Can White Manhood Be More Than This?

I really enjoyed Iron Widow! I don't think I have read a book like it.