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eloise_bradbooks's Reviews (801)
3.5 - Damn it. Why did it take me so long to get into this book? Cause that last quarter was bloody epic.
Maybe i wasn't in the right mood, maybe listening to it on audio wasn't the best way to consume this book, i don't know. All i know is i wasn't getting anything out of the first 3/4 of the book... I wasn't feeling much for characters and I couldn't quite find a plot to hang on to.
That all changed by the end though.
It was dark and gritty and punched me in the gut when I clearly wasn't exepcting it to.
The relationship between the characters got super interesting, and I think i started getting interested in the world and its way of existing. Sadly, because i almost don't remember anything from the first 70% of the book, I'm not sure what all of it means but now i feel like looking into it more so i can continue on with the series.
Maybe i wasn't in the right mood, maybe listening to it on audio wasn't the best way to consume this book, i don't know. All i know is i wasn't getting anything out of the first 3/4 of the book... I wasn't feeling much for characters and I couldn't quite find a plot to hang on to.
That all changed by the end though.
It was dark and gritty and punched me in the gut when I clearly wasn't exepcting it to.
The relationship between the characters got super interesting, and I think i started getting interested in the world and its way of existing. Sadly, because i almost don't remember anything from the first 70% of the book, I'm not sure what all of it means but now i feel like looking into it more so i can continue on with the series.
Excuse me while I go cry in the corner because this volume was utter perfection.
World building and magic systems isn't what interests me the most in books.. usually (i'm more of a character-focus reader). For this one however, it's what stood out the most.
I loved how books and reading were so unknown they became magical.
Because for most of us readers, books ARE magical. And in this world they became amazement for everyone. I also really liked the magical elements and the whole world that is slowly being built. I can't wait to discover more of it.
Characters, although it took some time to fully appreciate them, were A+. I love our two leads and how they're both strong and intelligent in their own way, and they compliment each other very well.
I can't to get more of the world, more of the magial elements, more of the villains.
Just... Give me more.
I loved how books and reading were so unknown they became magical.
Because for most of us readers, books ARE magical. And in this world they became amazement for everyone. I also really liked the magical elements and the whole world that is slowly being built. I can't wait to discover more of it.
Characters, although it took some time to fully appreciate them, were A+. I love our two leads and how they're both strong and intelligent in their own way, and they compliment each other very well.
I can't to get more of the world, more of the magial elements, more of the villains.
Just... Give me more.
I'm still not 100% sure how I feel about this...
On the one hand, I loved the atmosphere, the darkness, the madness, the creativity, and the way these boys love each other so much it absolutely ripped my heart out.
They're two messed up kids in a messed up relationship dealing with messed up things...
And all the other teen characters were the absolute best! I'd give my heart to Roger, even to Peter! There is an incredible portrayal of friendship however... our main character doesn't seem to care about the fantastic people around him. He only goes towards the guy who abuses him...
The problem is that their relationship is very unhealthy, one of the guys being severely abusive and both being codependent on an unhealthy level... I feel as though it wasn't addressed in the best way...
The author says in their note that they are the perfect match because one needed someone to take care of and the other needed to be taken care of... but that doesn't make it healthy!
At the end of the day, it is definitely a thrilling and fast read but please do remember that this type of relationship isn't to be encouraged.
On the one hand, I loved the atmosphere, the darkness, the madness, the creativity, and the way these boys love each other so much it absolutely ripped my heart out.
They're two messed up kids in a messed up relationship dealing with messed up things...
And all the other teen characters were the absolute best! I'd give my heart to Roger, even to Peter! There is an incredible portrayal of friendship however... our main character doesn't seem to care about the fantastic people around him. He only goes towards the guy who abuses him...
The problem is that their relationship is very unhealthy, one of the guys being severely abusive and both being codependent on an unhealthy level... I feel as though it wasn't addressed in the best way...
The author says in their note that they are the perfect match because one needed someone to take care of and the other needed to be taken care of... but that doesn't make it healthy!
At the end of the day, it is definitely a thrilling and fast read but please do remember that this type of relationship isn't to be encouraged.
Look, I'm stubborn. You make me fall in love with an new world and the characters in it, I'm gonna want to follow them in the next books too.
It kinda felt like many second-book-in-a-trilogy where I'm still interested, I appreciate the characters and find everything very well thought through, but nothing much happened in this particular book. I mean... things DID happen but nothing extremely entertaining, and most importantly, not much of Lyra. Loads of things ABOUT Lyra, but we didn't see actual my bad ass stubborn Lyra DO THINGS.
All in all, it's setting up a big revolution and I can't wait to find out how it ends. I'm also not ready to say goodbye to these characters and this world...
It kinda felt like many second-book-in-a-trilogy where I'm still interested, I appreciate the characters and find everything very well thought through, but nothing much happened in this particular book. I mean... things DID happen but nothing extremely entertaining, and most importantly, not much of Lyra. Loads of things ABOUT Lyra, but we didn't see actual my bad ass stubborn Lyra DO THINGS.
All in all, it's setting up a big revolution and I can't wait to find out how it ends. I'm also not ready to say goodbye to these characters and this world...
This was absolutely not what I thought it would be... But it doesn't mean it was bad (I think?).
For some reason I picked it up thinking it would be an m/m romance. It isn't.
And I am stating this straight away because I was led to believe it was, and i felt almost disappointed when some phrases were suggesting queerness but it was never stated as such. I don't want you to be disappointed. I don't want you going in to this book expecting boys falling in love. That's not what this is about.
This is the story of Darius. He is half Persian but doesn't feel connected to his Persian family or culture; he is clinically depressed and on medication; he is overweight and bullied at school; he shares nothing with his dad except depression; and he suddenly needs to spend a couple of weeks in Iran with his mother's family, which he knows almost nothing about, because his grandfather has a brain tumor.
It's about a teenage boy fighting to understand who he is and who his family is and where he belongs. For him to understand that he DOES belong.
And he just so happens to find himself a best friend as well.
I loved the complexity of the characters and their relationships. It felt so very real that this big family says and does hurtful things but all in all they love each other. They learn to understand each other and respect one another. Every single character says, does and feels good AND bad things, which makes them the best fleshed characters i've read in quite a while.
The mental health elements felt perfectly handled and the author's note at the end explains exactly why.
I also appreciated how much Persian / Iranian culture was in this book. I learnt a lot but it didn't feel like an educational schoolbook either, it was done perfectly.
The writing style was similar to Benjamin Alire Saenz' style in Aristotle and Dante (my love). Simple phrases, short chapters, a bit of vagueness and a lot of introspection. Also dealing with mental health and trying to understand your family and their origins, all while finally finding your first real friend.
I'm still trying to figure out how I feel about Darius' queerness being very lightly implied but never actually stated... Why is everyone adding it to ther lgbtq+ lists when... It's not?
I was thinking of knocking it down to 3 stars but I believe it isn't completely the author's fault if everyone assumed it would be gay when it wasn't... (unless that's how he sold it, in which case... NO).
------------------------------------------
“Darioush,” Sohrab said. “Are you stuck?”
“Huh?”
“You said sometimes you get stuck. Thinking something sad.”
“Oh.” I swallowed and pulled at the tassels of my hoodie. “It’s nothing.”
“Come on.” Sohrab pulled me up to my feet. “I won’t let you be stuck anymore.”
------------------------------------------
For some reason I picked it up thinking it would be an m/m romance. It isn't.
And I am stating this straight away because I was led to believe it was, and i felt almost disappointed when some phrases were suggesting queerness but it was never stated as such. I don't want you to be disappointed. I don't want you going in to this book expecting boys falling in love. That's not what this is about.
This is the story of Darius. He is half Persian but doesn't feel connected to his Persian family or culture; he is clinically depressed and on medication; he is overweight and bullied at school; he shares nothing with his dad except depression; and he suddenly needs to spend a couple of weeks in Iran with his mother's family, which he knows almost nothing about, because his grandfather has a brain tumor.
It's about a teenage boy fighting to understand who he is and who his family is and where he belongs. For him to understand that he DOES belong.
And he just so happens to find himself a best friend as well.
I loved the complexity of the characters and their relationships. It felt so very real that this big family says and does hurtful things but all in all they love each other. They learn to understand each other and respect one another. Every single character says, does and feels good AND bad things, which makes them the best fleshed characters i've read in quite a while.
The mental health elements felt perfectly handled and the author's note at the end explains exactly why.
I also appreciated how much Persian / Iranian culture was in this book. I learnt a lot but it didn't feel like an educational schoolbook either, it was done perfectly.
The writing style was similar to Benjamin Alire Saenz' style in Aristotle and Dante (my love). Simple phrases, short chapters, a bit of vagueness and a lot of introspection. Also dealing with mental health and trying to understand your family and their origins, all while finally finding your first real friend.
I'm still trying to figure out how I feel about Darius' queerness being very lightly implied but never actually stated... Why is everyone adding it to ther lgbtq+ lists when... It's not?
I was thinking of knocking it down to 3 stars but I believe it isn't completely the author's fault if everyone assumed it would be gay when it wasn't... (unless that's how he sold it, in which case... NO).
------------------------------------------
“Darioush,” Sohrab said. “Are you stuck?”
“Huh?”
“You said sometimes you get stuck. Thinking something sad.”
“Oh.” I swallowed and pulled at the tassels of my hoodie. “It’s nothing.”
“Come on.” Sohrab pulled me up to my feet. “I won’t let you be stuck anymore.”
------------------------------------------
Altogether this series left me in awe. It is incredibly well thought through and built, it just feels like a timeless masterpiece.
I do however feel like it is a series that deserves to be read with time and attention to get all the aspects. I'll admit a few things went over my head as I audiobooked it while also doing other things and I kinda almost regret that.
Sometimes I don't want to give too much energy to reading. I just want to read for relaxation and entertainment and it almost felt like I should be paying more attention and analysing what all these things meant.
Anyways, the worlds are fascinating, the characters loveable and despite the theological aspects I didn't care to analyse, I found the whole plot pretty entertaining.
I do however feel like it is a series that deserves to be read with time and attention to get all the aspects. I'll admit a few things went over my head as I audiobooked it while also doing other things and I kinda almost regret that.
Sometimes I don't want to give too much energy to reading. I just want to read for relaxation and entertainment and it almost felt like I should be paying more attention and analysing what all these things meant.
Anyways, the worlds are fascinating, the characters loveable and despite the theological aspects I didn't care to analyse, I found the whole plot pretty entertaining.
I kept hearing people say how brilliant this story was but it was even greater than that. It was phenomenal.
Most poems in Part II and Part IV blew me away. Made me feel all the feels.
I must say, I didn't click with most of the others. That's just how it goes with poetry. It speaks to you or it doesn't.
Rudy Fransisco is one of the stand out names i've memorised from all the Button Poetry videos i've seen and he performs them brilliantly. I definitely recommend checking his performances out.
I must say, I didn't click with most of the others. That's just how it goes with poetry. It speaks to you or it doesn't.
Rudy Fransisco is one of the stand out names i've memorised from all the Button Poetry videos i've seen and he performs them brilliantly. I definitely recommend checking his performances out.