dlrosebyh's Reviews (773)

I tried so hard to hate a novel written by a successful, white man. But Goddamn when I say Ethan Hawke has a perfect play of words. What can this man not do?

As he awkwardly, and at times hilariously, attempts to manage the wreckage of his personal life with whiskey and sex, Hawke's narrator is a young man in torment who is disgusted with himself after the breakdown of his marriage and still half-hopes for a reconciliation that would allow him to forgive himself and move on. Theater, in especially the difficulty of playing the part of Hotspur in a production of Henry IV directed by a fantastic director and featuring one of the most charismatic and narcissistic Falstaffs ever, rescues him. A Bright Ray of Darkness is a book about shame, beauty, faith, and the ethical power of art. It is searing, visceral, and absolutely captivating.

The narrator narrating the play actually adds to my appreciation of this book. I adore how this revolves upon Henry IV. I'm not an actor, but I believe this book vividly depicted the difficulties of the profession to the extent that I actually felt sorry for the narrator.

Certain parts were wholly unnecessary. And I'll be the one to confess that the narrator isn't at all endearing. When he commits another horrible act, there are times when I want to slam my head against a wall. He exhibits such misogynistic behavior, especially in some situations, and I believe that's the only reason I didn't give this book a perfect five-star rating. Even though I enjoy unreliable narrators, I detest misogynistic ones. In spite of that, if you can get past it, this book is REALLY GOOD (Dead Poets Society reference because Ethan Hawke..lol).

Noemi Vidal is a soldier who is prepared to risk anything to preserve her planet, Genesis, including her own life. She is a rebel to their enemy on Earth. He's a machine—After years of being alone in space, Abel's sophisticated programming has begun to change. He merely wants to defend his creator and be free. He is an abomination to the people of Genesis. 

 

Noemi and Abel are opponents in an interplanetary conflict who are compelled to work together by happenstance as they go on a perilous trip through the cosmos. Their actions would put an end to the conflict for good, but they would not be without cost. The stakes are bigger than either of them knew at first, and the more time they spend together, the more they're forced to question everything they'd been taught to be true. 

 

The first two-thirds of the book were fascinating. I'm not sure what occurred in the latter half of the story, but it made me lose interest. The story was very predictable and tacky (sometimes, I had to put the book down to absorb what I had just read). Nonetheless, this novel was enjoyable. 

 

What piqued my interest the most was the romance's uniqueness. It was clearly merely a side storyline. Normally, when I read about robots, I assume they are incapable of falling in love with one another, but this one was different. Would I consider myself a romantic? No, not at all. But do I despise it? No. If I decide to read the future novels in the series, I'm sure I'll warm up to the romance. 

Automae have ruled Rabu's country for far too long, oppressing its human subjects. But the human revolution has risen, and Ayla is at its center. Ayla, a former handmaiden turned fugitive, almost fled Lady Crier's palace, the girl she would've slain if she hadn't fallen in love first. 

 

Ayla has now committed her loyalty to Queen Junn, who can assist the human revolt achieve its ultimate goal: the destroying of the Iron Heart. The Automae will be reduced to the point of extinction if it loses its strength. Ayla wants to succeed, but she can't get rid of her love for Crier. Unbeknownst to her, Crier has also abandoned the palace, joining a band of wandering rebels in her quest to find and defend Ayla. 

 

Crier's War was my favorite book that I read in 2021. I was dying for this conclusion because I was afraid it wouldn't measure up to my expectations— yet, shockingly, it much exceeded them. Since I read Crier's War about two years ago, I was afraid I'd forget the story and, of course, the world-building. However, Nina Varela did an excellent job recap from Crier's War. 

 

Iron Heart is certainly more political than Crier's War, which is why many people disliked the sequel. Personally, I enjoy political fantasies with a romantic subplot. I like how it's plot-driven, yet you can see Crier and Ayla staring at one other. If you like Crier's War for its romance, I think it's unlikely you'll enjoy Iron Heart as much. 

 

The characters were considerably more developed and seemed more real. The characters were not conventional hero-villain types, yet there had complexity. There are reservations. The characters are ethically ambiguous—difficult it's to choose someone to trust because everyone ends up betraying one another. 

 

It was fascinating to read about the interactions between Automaes and humans, and how they experience the world in such different ways yet still connecting together. I liked how the novel didn't just focus on the characters' romantic relationships, as most YA fantasy stories do, but also on platonic and family ones. 

 

If you're looking for an enemies to lovers sapphic tale, this is a must-read. The representation is fantastic, both LGBTQIA+ and POC. If you're not a big lover of plot-driven novels, you might forgo this one since, as much as I adore the characters, it's somewhere in the midst of being plot-driven and character-driven. 

Vice President Leni Robredo is noted for her compassion and caring toward the poorest Filipinos around the country. This is her tale, from a youngster admiring the dancing waters of Naga to a wife and mother, to a lawyer and community activist, to the second highest position in the country. This novel serves as a stark reminder of what we could have right now. 

Darcy Lowell is determined to stop her well-intentioned brother from acting as a matchmaker after a terrible blind date. The last thing she wants is love and the ensuing heartbreak. She lies and claims that her most recent set up was successful. Darcy doesn't anticipate getting bit by her lie.

One of the astrologers behind the well-known Twitter account Oh My Stars, Elle Jones, has a desire of meeting her true partner. But she is certain that it is not Darcy. A straight-talking stick in the mud who is far too analytical, reliable, and doubtful for someone as impulsive as Elle. Elle is perplexed when Darcy's brother—also her new business partner—expresses his happiness that they clicked. Was Darcy there on the date?

Elle complies when Darcy wants her to act like they're dating. However, there are some restrictions: Darcy must assist Elle in navigating her own demanding family over the holidays, and their agreement ends on New Year's Eve. They don't anticipate having genuine sentiments while in a fake relationship. But perhaps when genuine love is preordained by the stars, opposites can attract?

I adored elle, and I thought Darcy was so relatable. I really adored the supporting cast of characters. There were some plot holes, particularly with regard to their family. I wish I had seen more of their backstory. The supporting cast members were likewise quite well rounded. I had a strong attachment to them. It was executed pretty successfully in terms of plot. However, I still believe that it is more character-driven.

I wouldn't say I loved this book, but it was enjoyable anyway. It was cozy, predictable, and even creepy. I was thrown off a lot because there were just too many pop culture references. There were obviously more serious topics to explore, such as poisonous family connections and divorce, despite everything being so sweet and fluffy. I suppose I enjoyed the book for what it was.

When Rosemary Harper joins the crew of the ailing Wayfarer, she has low expectations. Even though the patched-up ship has seen better days, it nonetheless provides her with a bed, the opportunity to travel to distant parts of the galaxy, and most importantly, some separation from her past. She's never encountered anyone even quite like the ship's eclectic crew, which includes Ashby, their honorable captain, chatty engineers Kizzy and Jenks, who keep the ship operating, and Sissix, the exotic reptile pilot.

The hectic and crazy life on board the Wayfarer is just what Rosemary wants. The gang is going to be handed the opportunity of a lifetime, which will make things much more risky. They will live comfortably for years digging wormholes to faraway planets since it is profitable to do so. However, endangering her life wasn't in the agenda. The small Wayfarer crew will face a variety of unforeseen difficulties and exhilarating adventures in the great regions of deep space, forcing them to rely on one another. Rosemary must learn to rely on this diverse group of oddballs in order to survive, which teaches her about love and trust as well as the fact that having a family isn't necessarily the worst thing that could possibly happen.

What comes to mind when you hear the name "Becky Chambers"? I personally associate this book with found family, comfort, and space that I have discovered. Since the rumors are true—and I'm not even exaggerating—let me assure you that they are not in fact rumors. I'm thirty percent through the novel and already in tears from underdeveloped characters brought on by the discovered family. I felt like a hug after finishing this book, so I guess you could say that 2023 is off to a wonderful start.

Yes, there isn't much of a plot in this book, which is unusual for a sci-fi book. It's the definition of "no plots, only vibes," which might be quite off-putting at first. However, once you accept that there isn't a narrative, you'll be able to really enjoy this book. Becky Chambers is remarkable in that regard in terms of character. The characters are interesting, varied, and authentic. Funnily enough, they don’t seem like from another planet.

Literally, barely 10% of the book is devoted to the objective. I don't advise reading this if that offends you. The characters feel so authentic because, as has already noted, Becky Chambers spends more time developing them than she does on the plot. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I'm excited for the upcoming installment in the series.