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charliauthor's Reviews (531)
I wasnt entirely sure what i was expecting with Havenfall but the idea of a place that is essentially a hotel between worlds sounded intriguing enough that i picked it up.
I liked the cover as well so that was a bonus. However, everything after that was a bit of a let down :(
I'll admit that i was in a bit of reading slump while trying to get through this but it was really slow paced for me and nothing much really happened. If the reveals at the end were sufficient enough, i might not have felt such a disappointment in it, but there was just not much going on that i really cared about.
The only reason i dont give it a 2 is because it is written fairly well with lots of modern day references that were quite fun and the promise of more to come helps it along.
Generally speaking though, its just TOO YA for me, too tame and not enough excitement that I by the end, i didnt even particularly understand that much.
I liked the cover as well so that was a bonus. However, everything after that was a bit of a let down :(
I'll admit that i was in a bit of reading slump while trying to get through this but it was really slow paced for me and nothing much really happened. If the reveals at the end were sufficient enough, i might not have felt such a disappointment in it, but there was just not much going on that i really cared about.
The only reason i dont give it a 2 is because it is written fairly well with lots of modern day references that were quite fun and the promise of more to come helps it along.
Generally speaking though, its just TOO YA for me, too tame and not enough excitement that I by the end, i didnt even particularly understand that much.
First of all I want to thank The Court of Miracles for bringing me out of a terrible reading slump! It was just so much fun from beginning to end, that I couldnt put it down.
Now, the uncultured swine that I am, didnt realise that this was a reimagining of Les Miserables. I didnt realise any of this until a certain character was introduced and I thought, wait...I know that name! Either way, it was a fun and clever read that unfolds in a world in which the French Revolution had not happened.
So, Nina's sister is sold by their father into slavery/prostitution, run by one of nine Guild Lords of The Miracle Court. We follow Nina during her trials to get her sister back and what trials they are! Filled with mystery and assassins and thieves and ghosts, TCoM is a fast paced tale of - as the book rightly states on the front - liberty, family and treachery.
I really liked Nina as a character. Her dry humour and impatience with idiocy and frivolity of the French Court were all really fun to read. Her encounters with the dauphin were really entertaining and while there was no full on romance in this one, the connections she does have, are all the more touching for it by the end.
Goes without saying, but i recommend.
Now, the uncultured swine that I am, didnt realise that this was a reimagining of Les Miserables. I didnt realise any of this until a certain character was introduced and I thought, wait...I know that name! Either way, it was a fun and clever read that unfolds in a world in which the French Revolution had not happened.
So, Nina's sister is sold by their father into slavery/prostitution, run by one of nine Guild Lords of The Miracle Court. We follow Nina during her trials to get her sister back and what trials they are! Filled with mystery and assassins and thieves and ghosts, TCoM is a fast paced tale of - as the book rightly states on the front - liberty, family and treachery.
I really liked Nina as a character. Her dry humour and impatience with idiocy and frivolity of the French Court were all really fun to read. Her encounters with the dauphin were really entertaining and while there was no full on romance in this one, the connections she does have, are all the more touching for it by the end.
Goes without saying, but i recommend.
2023 REVIEW
Its such an amazing feeling to re read and be just as blown away as you were the first time. The twists and turns and betrayals and deaths are all just so mindblowing insane and exciting that you dont want to put it down.
I love that despite the injustice that is rife in this world, the baddies do get their comeuppance, even if it does take a while lol.
Cannot wait to go onto Iron Gold but will definitelt take a small break cause there is soooo much to unpack!
2021 REVIEW
There just arent words for how awesome this series is! I went through all the emotions and just when I thought I couldnt be mended from how broken I was, it brought me back in!
Darrow most definitely has his flaws but he is an amazing character with amazing friends that i just fell in love with. The intrigue, the politics, the betrayal, the war, everything is just so intricately detailed and poignant and graphic in all the best ways!
Its such an amazing feeling to re read and be just as blown away as you were the first time. The twists and turns and betrayals and deaths are all just so mindblowing insane and exciting that you dont want to put it down.
I love that despite the injustice that is rife in this world, the baddies do get their comeuppance, even if it does take a while lol.
Cannot wait to go onto Iron Gold but will definitelt take a small break cause there is soooo much to unpack!
2021 REVIEW
There just arent words for how awesome this series is! I went through all the emotions and just when I thought I couldnt be mended from how broken I was, it brought me back in!
Darrow most definitely has his flaws but he is an amazing character with amazing friends that i just fell in love with. The intrigue, the politics, the betrayal, the war, everything is just so intricately detailed and poignant and graphic in all the best ways!
This was a difficult one for me. Im not entirely sure what took me so long to get into but it took me aaages!
The main thing is probably the plot. I was probably 30 or so chapters in and nothing had really happened. The characters were set pretty early on so the build up was just really dragged out with not much to show for it by the very end.
While stories mostly follow a certain frame work, there were no real surprises or mysteries throughout. The ones that were revealed were expected and even the one that wasnt, im sure i would have figured out if i'd been paying more attention. Since I had to push through just to get it done, it kind of went over my head.
A definite positive though are the characters and that in an old Briton world, the issue of Gender Identity was brought up and done incredibly well. I really felt for Keyne and her journey into being seen how she wishes to be seen and i commend that entire plot line.
Other than that, it was just too slow for me and also ended rather macabre which was unexpected but not particularly warranted.
The main thing is probably the plot. I was probably 30 or so chapters in and nothing had really happened. The characters were set pretty early on so the build up was just really dragged out with not much to show for it by the very end.
While stories mostly follow a certain frame work, there were no real surprises or mysteries throughout. The ones that were revealed were expected and even the one that wasnt, im sure i would have figured out if i'd been paying more attention. Since I had to push through just to get it done, it kind of went over my head.
A definite positive though are the characters and that in an old Briton world, the issue of Gender Identity was brought up and done incredibly well. I really felt for Keyne and her journey into being seen how she wishes to be seen and i commend that entire plot line.
Other than that, it was just too slow for me and also ended rather macabre which was unexpected but not particularly warranted.
Despite a drawn out middle and some questionable quests that could have been a little more thought out, I enjoyed The Prison Healer. Much of the excitement came in the final chapters but it was such a fun cliffhanger ending that the previous slow pace was forgiven.
TPH follows Kiva who has been locked up in a prison for 10 years after she and her father are captured for being seen with known rebels. She spends these years learning healing techniques from her father, with her only hope of survival and/or rescue in the form of coded notes that she receives and sends in frequently to the outside world.
The book is enjoyable throughout with a little romance, a cute sidekick type character and just the right amount of sinister activity to keep it interesting. As mentioned, the middle was a bit of a drag with the constant inner monologues from Kiva but picked up considerably so it can be forgiven.
Im glad i pre ordered the sequel as i genuinely invested in Kiva’s journey now but hope the dark and smut meters ramp it up a notch for the second outing.
TPH follows Kiva who has been locked up in a prison for 10 years after she and her father are captured for being seen with known rebels. She spends these years learning healing techniques from her father, with her only hope of survival and/or rescue in the form of coded notes that she receives and sends in frequently to the outside world.
The book is enjoyable throughout with a little romance, a cute sidekick type character and just the right amount of sinister activity to keep it interesting. As mentioned, the middle was a bit of a drag with the constant inner monologues from Kiva but picked up considerably so it can be forgiven.
Im glad i pre ordered the sequel as i genuinely invested in Kiva’s journey now but hope the dark and smut meters ramp it up a notch for the second outing.
An ambitious concept full of twists and turns set in alternative/parallel worlds that show what a world without evil could really be like.
Great worldbuilding and use of magic systems and races that were really well thought out with great word use and research into traditional fantasy set ups.
A slow beginning for me with a bit too much fantastical elements going on that at times i was a little confused, but overall a good read for traditional fantasy with complex characters.
Great worldbuilding and use of magic systems and races that were really well thought out with great word use and research into traditional fantasy set ups.
A slow beginning for me with a bit too much fantastical elements going on that at times i was a little confused, but overall a good read for traditional fantasy with complex characters.
From the sharp wit and complete disregard for all sense of propriety from Gabriel to the richly built world and gruesome vampiric inhabits, Empire of the Vampire is an amazing read!
While this was a sampler so of course, there is so much more to get stuck into, the style of Kristoff is evident throughout and I'm eager to delve further into his brilliant though entertainingly corrupt mind!
I love the presence of strong women like Astrid and Chloe as well as the range of characters in the initial band of merry men as it were.
There are endless quote worthy sentences that will probably be tattooed over people in the coming months but its all very much worth it.
My only concern was the similarity of plot to another well known book. While the introduction of vampires to the setting is a new take, the idea of what the Holy Grail is, isnt.
That being said, I am excited to finish it and see how two timeless plot themes will mesh together and create another epic series akin to Kristoff's previous work!
ADDED:
Having received an ARC copy from JK after he featured on my podcast - thank you - i was able to finally finish Gabriel’s tale.
This book primarily is beautifully written even with the adult language! Its a collection of thought provoking quotes that raises valid questions about faith and religion. Journeying with Gabriel was a complete adventure if not only for the window into the mind if this soft hearted demon killer whose vendetta after 700 pages still isnt complete. There is so much to unravel/learn about the world that has shaped Gabriel and its exciting to read a story that tackles real emotion born from very real and terrifying places. Its real in its gritty narrative and Gabriel’s relationships and the way people move in certain environments.
I expected a lot more hard hitting death scenes, considering this is JK lol but now that ive put it down, im quite happy i was saved any true heartbreak! Excited for the wait to ending Gabe’s story
While this was a sampler so of course, there is so much more to get stuck into, the style of Kristoff is evident throughout and I'm eager to delve further into his brilliant though entertainingly corrupt mind!
I love the presence of strong women like Astrid and Chloe as well as the range of characters in the initial band of merry men as it were.
There are endless quote worthy sentences that will probably be tattooed over people in the coming months but its all very much worth it.
My only concern was the similarity of plot to another well known book. While the introduction of vampires to the setting is a new take, the idea of what the Holy Grail is, isnt.
That being said, I am excited to finish it and see how two timeless plot themes will mesh together and create another epic series akin to Kristoff's previous work!
ADDED:
Having received an ARC copy from JK after he featured on my podcast - thank you - i was able to finally finish Gabriel’s tale.
This book primarily is beautifully written even with the adult language! Its a collection of thought provoking quotes that raises valid questions about faith and religion. Journeying with Gabriel was a complete adventure if not only for the window into the mind if this soft hearted demon killer whose vendetta after 700 pages still isnt complete. There is so much to unravel/learn about the world that has shaped Gabriel and its exciting to read a story that tackles real emotion born from very real and terrifying places. Its real in its gritty narrative and Gabriel’s relationships and the way people move in certain environments.
I expected a lot more hard hitting death scenes, considering this is JK lol but now that ive put it down, im quite happy i was saved any true heartbreak! Excited for the wait to ending Gabe’s story