heddas_bookgems's Reviews (490)

“'Here, Nosy, you just move over and make this boy a place in the straw. That’s right, you cuddle up to Vixen, there. She’ll take you in, and give a good slash to any that think to bother you.' It’s night, it’s cold and wet and you’re afraid, but thankfully the blanket, straw and dog are warm.

Assassins Apprentice is about the bastard of the crown Prince of the Six Dutchies. The boy is dumped by his grandfather, has no name, doesn’t speak, but develops a strong affinity with a dog as he is raised in the stables by the stable master Burrich. King Shrewd has never taken an interest in him, but after a while the king sees in him his next faithful servant as an Assassin.

This book was my a buddy read. Although we were very committed, this book wasn’t an instant favorite. It’s slow pacing and descriptive writing of Hobb asked some adjustment. Had I read this one on my own I might have stopped reading all together. Thankfully we didn’t, because the characters were so well sculpted that I, without realizing it, had really bonded with them. This book is something else. It’s character building is immaculate and it makes you want for more after you finish it. However, this book is not for everyone giving its pacing, but if you are willing to see trough that and give it a change I think many fantasy fanatics will love this as much as I did.

I had high hopes for this, as Chinese history always interested me. And I enjoyed reading it, but it didn’t need my expectations. As this is marketed as a fantasy retelling of Milan, I expected more magic, but honestly it lacked that in my opinion. Mainly the pacing and the elaborated explanation of war tactics in the chapters concerning Ouyang and Esen made it that I had to withhold me from dropping it all together. Strong point was the fierce character Zhu and the underlying gender related questions. Like, did Zhu always identify as man, did she behave like a man taking someones identity, or do we characterize strong behavior from cis gender females as male behavior? I also loved that this book showed the LGBTQ+ representation and its plot was a mere masterpiece. I still would recommend this for people who are interested in Chinese history, war politics or are in search for books with LGBTQ+ representation. But do not start it if you are anticipating a fantasy book.

“I see Jade, I see fire….and I see gold. The three are bound together.” Visualize mountains of sand, orange colors on a purplish and red sky. A land of contrast with lush bamboo forests and large dessert plains.

Jade Fire Gold, a story told from two POV’s, Ahn and Atlan. Atlan is an exiled prince in search of revenge and wants nothing more than to take back his throne. Ahn a peasant girl; live is though for Ahn and her grandmother Ama. The land is being tormented by an fast growing desert which is consuming more and more land making it harder for everyone, except the empire, to survive. Besides that the land is at point of war and everyone who possesses magic is being prosecuted by an cult of Priests. When Ahn discovers she has powers, she decides to flee, to keep Ama safe. When Atlan and Ahn, out of necessity, join forces they discover there fate is bound together.

Yesterday I finished Jade Fire Gold. An action packed young adult novel with a dual POV based on Chinese mythology with clear influences from Wuxia movies. I enjoyed this book, but I wasn’t blown away by it. Although it was an easy read with lots of beautiful imagery, lovely characters and an interesting story we just didn’t click. It had everything going for it, the story was great I liked both characters and the writing was poetic, but it wasn’t for me. Nothing wrong with this book, I even think a lot will like it especially if you like Wuxia or Chinese mythology, but this was just a nice read for me. Which resulted in a good solid 3.5 stars.

“If I were a boy, I’d be living a dream. I could fight mecha-aliens in my own giant transforming war machine, be loved and praised as a celebrity, and be serviced by a watchtower full of concubines. But I’m not a boy […]”

Wu Zetian has just one wish: enlist to become a concubine pilot of a Chrysalis. These mecha war machines are designed to battle earths intruders, the Hunduns. Regrettably women rarely survive these battles. The risk of dying doesn’t bother Zetian as she’s out for revenge for the murder of her sister.

Unfortunately this book felt mediocre. Iron Widow has been hyped a lot and I’ve seen raving reviews. It was supposed to be the next young adult masterpiece; a sci-fi resembling the Handmaids Tale combined with Pacific Rim.
And yes, I can see the resemblance, but beside the story, which is fast paced, action packed and has a lot of interesting plot twists, this lacked a few important elements for me to be a masterpiece. It missed a layered world building as did the time period it took place in. It gave only minimal explanation of how the world came to be, minimal clarification on these mecha war machines, the war at hand or even on the intruders.
On the whole I did like the book to a certain degree. I definitely loved the disability rep., was in love with the strong feministic approach and loved that the author illustrated how misogyny is the real villain. The ending really pulled it all together with a plot twist of magnitude you cannot comprehend.
However as I couldn’t get a grip on the world it self it lost me half way.

TW: domestic violence, suicide, addiction, sexual assault, torture

“‘Shh, don’t show the others. I had to bribe the vendor just to get this last plate.’ Winking back, I popped a rice cake into my mouth. My shoulders melted as my tongue savored the chewiness of the rice dough, the powdered sugar dusting my lips with just enough sweetness.”

As first daughter of the Emperor, Shiori’anma (Shiori), her destiny is set, she’s betrothed to the young Lord Bushian. But suddenly her stepmother turns on Shiori and she and her brothers are cursed and exiled. In her way getting back to her home and family Shiori learns about her own identity, her power and the importance of family.

Six Crimson Cranes was, just as it’s pastel cover, a wonderfully sweet and lovely read. This coming of age novel called vivid images of silk robes embroidered with peonies, large lakes with green baby dragons, the power of brotherly love, the magic of a slow burn and heavenly food.
I enjoyed this medium paced book. I absolutely adored the enchanted paper crane Kiki and the sister of Lord Bushian, Megari. Besides that I loved this slow burn that developed later on. Only downside was the small part of the dragon Seryu. But I’ve been told the role will be larger in the sequel! All in all, this was exactly the rebound material I needed after my last disappointing read.

“The memories of spirits and gods might by hazy, but not the memories of books. Stories are eternal.” Waves as high as buildings threatening your very existence. The only thing to save your brother and your kin is to sacrifice yourself.

Because of the yearly rage of the Sea God, the world is endangered with storms and floods. To lift the curse of the Sea God every year a bride is thrown into the sea. This time Mina’s future sister in law is chosen. Although rules forbid to interfere her brother follows his beloved with the risk of death. Mina will do anything to save her brothers live and decides to jump into the sea herself. Is Mina the bride who can lift the curse?

An Asian folktale retelling under sea filled with dragons, snakes and spirits and the cursed Sea God. This recently released book by Axie Oh is already loved by many. It’s been compared to the new Spirited Away and I get this resemblance as the world is filled with spirits, gods and dragons. In addition, the writing style of Oh is very whimsical and has a lot of wisdoms that resemblance wisdoms of Asian philosophy. With this Oh has created an action packed novel, each chapter ending in a cliffhanger making this book a real page turner. It even has a lot of elements of reflection that gives the reader moments to mull over. However, due to circumstances, I mostly listened to the audiobook which made this book almost unlikeable. Happily enough I read bits too and realized that this book had everything I wanted. So, I highly recommend reading this utter sweet, whimsical and lovely book, but please skip the audiobook as that was a real dread.

“That’s the joy of myths. The fun comes in telling them yourself—something I warmly encourage you to do, you person reading this. Read the stories in this book, then make them your own, and on some dark and icy winter’s evening, or on a summer night when the sun will not set, tell your friends what happened when Thor’s hammer was stolen, or how Odin obtained the mead of poetry for the gods . . .”

Dive deep into the ancient stories with this fictionalization of Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman. It tells you about the origin of the nine worlds and the becoming of the gods, giants and dwarfs.

Have you ever felt the need to learn more about Norse Mythology but hadn’t got the stamina for some dry old and stuffy book, read this book by Gaiman. This wonderful prosaic retelling really made the stories come to live again. From the early stages of existence, through the mischievous acts of Loki and the stupidity of the strongest God Thor, Gaiman tells it with so much humor and joy that you cannot but feel the same excitement and chuckle along. Although Gaiman might have modernized the myths in adding some dialogues and context they are accurate in content and therefore a perfect start if you are interested in Norse Mythology. If you like audiobooks, I highly recommend this one with Gaiman as narrator!

“Suddenly I saw in front of me the Statue of the Faun, the Statue that I love above all others. There was his calm, faintly smiling face; there was his forefinger gently pressed to his lips.”

Piranesi, his nickname as his own name is unknown to him, lives alone in a extraordinary world. A huge house of sorts connected to the sea and tide with numerous layers of vestibules. He lives of the fish he catches and seaweed he collects after the tide is gone. His only companion are the numerous statues and the Other. But then suspicion about the Other arises and Piranesi doubts his whole existence.

In 2021 this book received the Womens Prize of Fiction. The jury called it fresh; a book that lingers and something that is out of this world.
It did feel like a dream you can’t seem to wake up from. It was mysterious, confusing but at the same time Piranesi was overly sweet but also a little pretentious.
Due to chronic illness Clarke never thought it possible to write this book. Perhaps because of this I felt a connection with Piranesi. The book held elements that relate to having a chronic illness. Aspects like experiencing solitude, how confinement creates bonds with objects or birds or how harsh environments can be experienced as normality as long as you give it time. Although this book was strange and felt like you were dreaming, these elements made it multi-layered and because of that it will forever leave his mark.