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ishouldreadthat
Originally posted to I Should Read That
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is a spoiler-free review.
The Cruel Prince was one of the most highly anticipated releases of 2018. Released in January, it has already caused a stir among fans and newcomers to Holly Black’s books. I’ve never read any of her books before, so when The Cruel Prince arrived in my January FairyLoot box, I was intrigued.
So just to get this out of the way: I hate books that feature the fae. I think the fae are super lame. They’re never as cruel or as frightening as they’re supposed to be — they always come off as cartoonish and ridiculous. Now, to be fair, I have only read two fae books: A Court of Thorns and Roses, which I hate with a fiery passion, and An Enchantment of Ravens, which I found incredibly disappointing. I figured that if anyone was going to get me to like the fae, it would be Holly Black, the Queen of Fae herself. And to my surprise, I did enjoy this book. It is far from perfect and I think it could have been a heck of a lot better, but I found it incredibly fun and entertaining.
I’m really struggling to write this review. I can’t quite come up with complete and thoughtful paragraphs on this, so I’m going to use bullet points.
-Our story centers on Jude, who wishes to fit in at the fae court. Her way of doing this is to become a knight, which she believes will grant her some authority and respect. Instead, she becomes a spy in a powerful household. Which means she can’t really tell anyone what she’s doing. Which means she can’t gain any authority or respect.
-Jude is a difficult character, which I actually really liked. She’s got a cunning streak a mile long and is selfish and pig-headed. Many of the decisions she made just didn’t make much sense to me. I get that she’s lost between worlds — she doesn’t really belong among mortals or fae — but it almost feels like she just cannot figure out what she wants.
-Without saying too much, the thing that sticks out the most is the fight she gets into toward the end — you probably know what I’m talking about if you’ve read this book. She doesn’t want to fight, but she ends up nearly killing someone for pretty much no reason. Why? Why, Jude?
-The plot of the book meanders so much that I can’t really get a firm grasp on what was supposed to happen. The actual plot takes up about 30% of the book while the remaining 70% is her fighting with Prince Cardan and his crew. There was so much here that was unnecessary and could have been cut out. I really wished we had more politics and subterfuge!
-The romance makes no sense. No sense!!! So little time is spent developing it and I just don’t think it was believable.
-Almost every character feels like a cardboard cutout. There’s so little development with side characters that they just have no real personality. They’re almost like stereotypes: the lovestruck teenage girl, the bully, the moustache-twirling villain (there are several of these), the disinterested stepmother. Even Jude herself has little development — she is very much the same person at the beginning of the book as she is at the end. Nothing really changes for her, she learns so little.
So in the interest of balancing this book review out a little, I want to include some things I really liked about the book (or else none of you will believe that I actually enjoy this).
-The Cruel Prince is an incredibly fast paced book that’s easy to read. If you’re looking for pure escapist fun, this is a good choice.
-Jude is a great example of an unlikable female character, which is something I find rare in YA and fantasy in general. She’s definitely not someone you should like, but I admire her ambition and ruthlessness. She could easily be the villain in another story.
-Although she’s technically a secondary character, Vivi has the best story line. I think I would have preferred this book to be about her! She’s got depth that no one else really gets and she’s maneuvering through an incredibly difficult position.
-I really like the way that the climax of the book comes together. I’d say more, but you know, spoilers. If we cut out about 70 pages of deadly teenage pranks and added more to the plot, this book would have been spectacular.
-The way the book sets up the rest of the trilogy seems to indicate that a lot of my pacing and plotting issues will resolve themselves. I’m hoping that we’ve got the background info out of the way and the next book will really pick up in terms of plot.
I initially gave this book 4 out of 5 stars, but it’s one that I really needed to think about before rating. While there was a lot that was messy about The Cruel Prince I think that the series as a whole is going to be worth a read.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is a spoiler-free review.
The Cruel Prince was one of the most highly anticipated releases of 2018. Released in January, it has already caused a stir among fans and newcomers to Holly Black’s books. I’ve never read any of her books before, so when The Cruel Prince arrived in my January FairyLoot box, I was intrigued.
So just to get this out of the way: I hate books that feature the fae. I think the fae are super lame. They’re never as cruel or as frightening as they’re supposed to be — they always come off as cartoonish and ridiculous. Now, to be fair, I have only read two fae books: A Court of Thorns and Roses, which I hate with a fiery passion, and An Enchantment of Ravens, which I found incredibly disappointing. I figured that if anyone was going to get me to like the fae, it would be Holly Black, the Queen of Fae herself. And to my surprise, I did enjoy this book. It is far from perfect and I think it could have been a heck of a lot better, but I found it incredibly fun and entertaining.
I’m really struggling to write this review. I can’t quite come up with complete and thoughtful paragraphs on this, so I’m going to use bullet points.
-Our story centers on Jude, who wishes to fit in at the fae court. Her way of doing this is to become a knight, which she believes will grant her some authority and respect. Instead, she becomes a spy in a powerful household. Which means she can’t really tell anyone what she’s doing. Which means she can’t gain any authority or respect.
-Jude is a difficult character, which I actually really liked. She’s got a cunning streak a mile long and is selfish and pig-headed. Many of the decisions she made just didn’t make much sense to me. I get that she’s lost between worlds — she doesn’t really belong among mortals or fae — but it almost feels like she just cannot figure out what she wants.
-Without saying too much, the thing that sticks out the most is the fight she gets into toward the end — you probably know what I’m talking about if you’ve read this book. She doesn’t want to fight, but she ends up nearly killing someone for pretty much no reason. Why? Why, Jude?
-The plot of the book meanders so much that I can’t really get a firm grasp on what was supposed to happen. The actual plot takes up about 30% of the book while the remaining 70% is her fighting with Prince Cardan and his crew. There was so much here that was unnecessary and could have been cut out. I really wished we had more politics and subterfuge!
-The romance makes no sense. No sense!!! So little time is spent developing it and I just don’t think it was believable.
-Almost every character feels like a cardboard cutout. There’s so little development with side characters that they just have no real personality. They’re almost like stereotypes: the lovestruck teenage girl, the bully, the moustache-twirling villain (there are several of these), the disinterested stepmother. Even Jude herself has little development — she is very much the same person at the beginning of the book as she is at the end. Nothing really changes for her, she learns so little.
So in the interest of balancing this book review out a little, I want to include some things I really liked about the book (or else none of you will believe that I actually enjoy this).
-The Cruel Prince is an incredibly fast paced book that’s easy to read. If you’re looking for pure escapist fun, this is a good choice.
-Jude is a great example of an unlikable female character, which is something I find rare in YA and fantasy in general. She’s definitely not someone you should like, but I admire her ambition and ruthlessness. She could easily be the villain in another story.
-Although she’s technically a secondary character, Vivi has the best story line. I think I would have preferred this book to be about her! She’s got depth that no one else really gets and she’s maneuvering through an incredibly difficult position.
-I really like the way that the climax of the book comes together. I’d say more, but you know, spoilers. If we cut out about 70 pages of deadly teenage pranks and added more to the plot, this book would have been spectacular.
-The way the book sets up the rest of the trilogy seems to indicate that a lot of my pacing and plotting issues will resolve themselves. I’m hoping that we’ve got the background info out of the way and the next book will really pick up in terms of plot.
I initially gave this book 4 out of 5 stars, but it’s one that I really needed to think about before rating. While there was a lot that was messy about The Cruel Prince I think that the series as a whole is going to be worth a read.
Originally posted to I Should Read That
I read a physical copy of this book that was purchased, however I had previously been provided a digital ARC in exchange for a review. This review is spoiler-free.
The Silent Companions had been sitting quietly on my Kindle for months when Author Sister recommended it. She had purchased the hardcover and absolutely devoured it -- it ticks a lot of boxes for both of us. I decided to pick up her copy to beat back some of the post-holiday fatigue and was floored by this modern Gothic novel.
I absolutely love hardback books without dust jackets. There's something about the design being printed on the physical book that absolutely delights me. Plus -- a cut out! I love cut outs. There was obviously a great deal of care put into the production of this book. I highly recommend getting the UK hardback if you're a book magpie like myself.
Now, onto the actual book. The copy above doesn’t quite encompass the scope of the novel. It sprawls across three points of view over three periods in time -- the 1600’s, the 1800’s, and the period after the climax of the book. We primarily get the point of view of Elsie Bainbridge, the newly married, and newly widowed, mistress of The Bridge, her late husband’s sprawling and crumbling country estate. The book is creepy, compelling, and completely addictive. I frightened myself several times while reading late into the night.
I don’t want to say too much about the plot, as you should always go into Gothic and horror novels without knowing much at all, but it is a fantastic modernization of the classic Gothic novel. What made this book work so well for me is the character of Elsie -- she is a difficult and complex character who manages to be simultaneously sympathetic and unsympathetic. She’s an unreliable narrator and I just always had the sense that she’s not being entirely honest with us. I love a grey-area protagonist, particularly one that is female, and Elsie fit the bill perfectly. I do think that the novel may have suffered if it was told in the third person instead.
Again, I don’t want to say too much, but The Silent Companions is well worth your time. If you love historical fiction, horror, the Gothic, or are still frightened by the Weeping Angels (me), you should absolutely pick up this incredible standalone. It is guaranteed to send shivers down your spine. And if you enjoy it, Purcell’s next novel, Corset, is due out in 2018!
I read a physical copy of this book that was purchased, however I had previously been provided a digital ARC in exchange for a review. This review is spoiler-free.
The Silent Companions had been sitting quietly on my Kindle for months when Author Sister recommended it. She had purchased the hardcover and absolutely devoured it -- it ticks a lot of boxes for both of us. I decided to pick up her copy to beat back some of the post-holiday fatigue and was floored by this modern Gothic novel.
I absolutely love hardback books without dust jackets. There's something about the design being printed on the physical book that absolutely delights me. Plus -- a cut out! I love cut outs. There was obviously a great deal of care put into the production of this book. I highly recommend getting the UK hardback if you're a book magpie like myself.
Now, onto the actual book. The copy above doesn’t quite encompass the scope of the novel. It sprawls across three points of view over three periods in time -- the 1600’s, the 1800’s, and the period after the climax of the book. We primarily get the point of view of Elsie Bainbridge, the newly married, and newly widowed, mistress of The Bridge, her late husband’s sprawling and crumbling country estate. The book is creepy, compelling, and completely addictive. I frightened myself several times while reading late into the night.
I don’t want to say too much about the plot, as you should always go into Gothic and horror novels without knowing much at all, but it is a fantastic modernization of the classic Gothic novel. What made this book work so well for me is the character of Elsie -- she is a difficult and complex character who manages to be simultaneously sympathetic and unsympathetic. She’s an unreliable narrator and I just always had the sense that she’s not being entirely honest with us. I love a grey-area protagonist, particularly one that is female, and Elsie fit the bill perfectly. I do think that the novel may have suffered if it was told in the third person instead.
Again, I don’t want to say too much, but The Silent Companions is well worth your time. If you love historical fiction, horror, the Gothic, or are still frightened by the Weeping Angels (me), you should absolutely pick up this incredible standalone. It is guaranteed to send shivers down your spine. And if you enjoy it, Purcell’s next novel, Corset, is due out in 2018!
Originally posted to I Should Read That
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler free.
I had never read any of E. Lockhart’s other books, although I keep hearing praise for We Were Liars, but Genuine Fraud looked absolutely fascinating. I didn’t really know what to expect.
What a strange little book -- and I mean that in the best way possible. I don’t think I’ve ever read anything quite like Genuine Fraud, but I’d really love more. I think the closest comparison I can make is to the film Memento due to the storytelling style. Genuine Fraud is a story that is almost exclusively told backwards -- we start in the present and work back in time from there. So you'll read a chapter, then the next chapter will take place two weeks before that, the next chapter will take place six weeks before that, etc. It's a strange but incredibly effective way of telling the story.
Despite knowing what happens straight away (but do we really know anything?), the plot is absolutely engaging. There are so many twists and turns that you’re kept on your toes the entire time. Jules is an incredibly devious and self centered character, but she draws you into her unconventional life and it is hard to escape.
This is one of those funny books in which there are really no good characters. I don’t mean ‘good’ as in ‘well written’. I mean ‘good’ as in ‘decent people’. Everyone in this story is a bad person in some way, which makes it all the more delicious to read. Jules tells the story in the first person, so we get to know her best. But do we really know her? She lives a life of glitz and glamour, but as the story goes on we see what's really beneath the surface. She's such a compelling character that you can't help but root for, despite the fact that she is a terrible, terrible person.
This is one of those books that I just don’t want to say much about -- the thrill is in the discovery. If you enjoy psychological thrillers, Genuine Fraud is a book you should absolutely pick up. It will keep you guessing until the last page. I found it incredibly hard to put down.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler free.
I had never read any of E. Lockhart’s other books, although I keep hearing praise for We Were Liars, but Genuine Fraud looked absolutely fascinating. I didn’t really know what to expect.
What a strange little book -- and I mean that in the best way possible. I don’t think I’ve ever read anything quite like Genuine Fraud, but I’d really love more. I think the closest comparison I can make is to the film Memento due to the storytelling style. Genuine Fraud is a story that is almost exclusively told backwards -- we start in the present and work back in time from there. So you'll read a chapter, then the next chapter will take place two weeks before that, the next chapter will take place six weeks before that, etc. It's a strange but incredibly effective way of telling the story.
Despite knowing what happens straight away (but do we really know anything?), the plot is absolutely engaging. There are so many twists and turns that you’re kept on your toes the entire time. Jules is an incredibly devious and self centered character, but she draws you into her unconventional life and it is hard to escape.
This is one of those funny books in which there are really no good characters. I don’t mean ‘good’ as in ‘well written’. I mean ‘good’ as in ‘decent people’. Everyone in this story is a bad person in some way, which makes it all the more delicious to read. Jules tells the story in the first person, so we get to know her best. But do we really know her? She lives a life of glitz and glamour, but as the story goes on we see what's really beneath the surface. She's such a compelling character that you can't help but root for, despite the fact that she is a terrible, terrible person.
This is one of those books that I just don’t want to say much about -- the thrill is in the discovery. If you enjoy psychological thrillers, Genuine Fraud is a book you should absolutely pick up. It will keep you guessing until the last page. I found it incredibly hard to put down.
Originally posted to I Should Read That
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.
The Last Namsara is the YA fantasy debut that everyone needs to be talking about. I'm a little torn on this one because there was so much that I really loved about this book, but I also had some issues.
I love the world that Ciccarelli creates for her novel. There are so many tired fantasy tropes that she twists, creating a fresh world. From her handling of the old traditions often seen in fantasy cultures (the old stories), to the warrior princess (Asha, the dragon slayer), to her handling of dragons themselves, she takes these old tropes and makes them feel so different. I really loved that people are rebelling against the old ways -- Asha's father, the dragon king, is trying to wipe out the old traditions that have become poisonous to the people who carry them on. Ciccarelli creates such a rich, wonderful, fantasy world and I just want to read more. In fact, this series would be the perfect candidate for a Language of Thorns-style companion book of fairy tales and mythology.
Asha is exactly what I want to see when I read about a strong female character. She's incredibly sure of herself, physically strong, stubborn, and so fierce in her beliefs. However, she has the capacity to love and to learn and change. She's in no way a 'lone wolf' character -- she loves, trusts, and protects, which is something I feel we don't often see in strong fantasy ladies. I absolutely love her character arc, although I wont say any more about it.
In fact, all the female characters in this book are fantastic. Safire, Asha’s cousin, is a wonderful force in Asha’s life and they have a wonderful female friendship. Roa, whom we know little about at the moment, seems to be set up as a strong and important character later on in the series.
Where I have issues with The Last Namsara is with the male characters. Jared, Asha’s fiancé and tormentor, is a classic mustache-twirling villain. He’s lewd, physically and emotionally abusive, and an all-around horrible man. That’s fine, because he works incredibly well not only as a villain, but as a looming force in Asha’s life. My issues actually stem from the good men in her life: Dax, her brother and the heir to the throne, and Torwin, Jarek’s slave and Asha’s eventual love interest. I like Dax well enough except in his treatment of Asha, which I will explain more about in a moment. Towin, however, I have a big problem with. For me, it felt like he fundamentally misunderstands who Asha was as a human. He keeps trying to manipulate her emotions and actions so she’ll do what he wants, which he thinks is best for her. However, if he knew her at all, he would understand that the choices she makes so obviously reflect who she is (my apologies for being vague -- I’m trying to avoid spoilers). Dax is also guilty of this -- he’s so wrapped up in himself that he doesn’t see or understand her. The men are just so clueless.
The biggest problem I had with Torwin is that his behavior so closely reflects that of Jarek. Jarek is always grabbing Asha, digging his fingers into her arm hard enough to leave bruises. He's so physically domineering over her. At one point, Asha and Torwin are arguing and he grabs at her, much like Jarek would do. He crushes her body to his until all the fight goes out of her. How horrid is that? I would be slightly more okay with these actions if he were set up to be a bad guy too, but I highly doubt that’s the case. To me, this glamorizes abuse in a way that YA books have been so guilty of of the past. Just because she’s a physically and emotionally strong character does not mean she needs to be manhandled in order to be ‘kept in line’ with the hero's wishes. Violence does not equal passion and I'm sick and tired of seeing this in books.
Despite the issues I had with the romance and love interest, I really do believe that The Last Namsara is so worth your time. I am very particular about my romance -- I am not sure these issues would bother a lot of readers. In terms of plot and world building, this book would get a 4.5 out of 5 for me -- same with the female characters. However, the handling of the romance ended up knocking it down to 3.5 stars. Regardless, I am so looking forward to continuing this series. I think Ciccarelli is an author to watch, and I’m looking forward to seeing what she comes up with next.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.
The Last Namsara is the YA fantasy debut that everyone needs to be talking about. I'm a little torn on this one because there was so much that I really loved about this book, but I also had some issues.
I love the world that Ciccarelli creates for her novel. There are so many tired fantasy tropes that she twists, creating a fresh world. From her handling of the old traditions often seen in fantasy cultures (the old stories), to the warrior princess (Asha, the dragon slayer), to her handling of dragons themselves, she takes these old tropes and makes them feel so different. I really loved that people are rebelling against the old ways -- Asha's father, the dragon king, is trying to wipe out the old traditions that have become poisonous to the people who carry them on. Ciccarelli creates such a rich, wonderful, fantasy world and I just want to read more. In fact, this series would be the perfect candidate for a Language of Thorns-style companion book of fairy tales and mythology.
Asha is exactly what I want to see when I read about a strong female character. She's incredibly sure of herself, physically strong, stubborn, and so fierce in her beliefs. However, she has the capacity to love and to learn and change. She's in no way a 'lone wolf' character -- she loves, trusts, and protects, which is something I feel we don't often see in strong fantasy ladies. I absolutely love her character arc, although I wont say any more about it.
In fact, all the female characters in this book are fantastic. Safire, Asha’s cousin, is a wonderful force in Asha’s life and they have a wonderful female friendship. Roa, whom we know little about at the moment, seems to be set up as a strong and important character later on in the series.
Where I have issues with The Last Namsara is with the male characters. Jared, Asha’s fiancé and tormentor, is a classic mustache-twirling villain. He’s lewd, physically and emotionally abusive, and an all-around horrible man. That’s fine, because he works incredibly well not only as a villain, but as a looming force in Asha’s life. My issues actually stem from the good men in her life: Dax, her brother and the heir to the throne, and Torwin, Jarek’s slave and Asha’s eventual love interest. I like Dax well enough except in his treatment of Asha, which I will explain more about in a moment. Towin, however, I have a big problem with. For me, it felt like he fundamentally misunderstands who Asha was as a human. He keeps trying to manipulate her emotions and actions so she’ll do what he wants, which he thinks is best for her. However, if he knew her at all, he would understand that the choices she makes so obviously reflect who she is (my apologies for being vague -- I’m trying to avoid spoilers). Dax is also guilty of this -- he’s so wrapped up in himself that he doesn’t see or understand her. The men are just so clueless.
The biggest problem I had with Torwin is that his behavior so closely reflects that of Jarek. Jarek is always grabbing Asha, digging his fingers into her arm hard enough to leave bruises. He's so physically domineering over her. At one point, Asha and Torwin are arguing and he grabs at her, much like Jarek would do. He crushes her body to his until all the fight goes out of her. How horrid is that? I would be slightly more okay with these actions if he were set up to be a bad guy too, but I highly doubt that’s the case. To me, this glamorizes abuse in a way that YA books have been so guilty of of the past. Just because she’s a physically and emotionally strong character does not mean she needs to be manhandled in order to be ‘kept in line’ with the hero's wishes. Violence does not equal passion and I'm sick and tired of seeing this in books.
Despite the issues I had with the romance and love interest, I really do believe that The Last Namsara is so worth your time. I am very particular about my romance -- I am not sure these issues would bother a lot of readers. In terms of plot and world building, this book would get a 4.5 out of 5 for me -- same with the female characters. However, the handling of the romance ended up knocking it down to 3.5 stars. Regardless, I am so looking forward to continuing this series. I think Ciccarelli is an author to watch, and I’m looking forward to seeing what she comes up with next.
Originally posted to I Should Read That
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is a spoiler-free review.
Ever since catching a glimpse of City of Brass’s gorgeous cover, I knew I needed it. Something about it caught my eye and I thought, ‘yep, I’m going to love that book’. I ended up with two copies of this book, my own finished copy and a digital ARC, and I’m not even upset -- it turned out to be the sumptuous, gorgeous fantasy novel I hoped it would be.
To start off, City of Brass is a dense book -- there’s no way around it. Coming in at 544 pages in hardcover, it’s certainly a hefty tome to carry around. But packed within the numerous pages is a beautiful and complex fantasy world. The world building in this book is phenomenal. Apparently Chakraborty is a history buff and it really shows in the world of City of Brass. I find that the best fantasy worlds have a strong history or mythology behind them and this book had both. Now, some readers will not like the level of detail she goes into. If you didn’t like the amount of detail George R. R. Martin puts into food in A Song of Ice and Fire, the descriptions of clothing in Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time, or the complex cultural structures Brandon Sanderson builds in the Stormlight Archives, this may not be the book for you. While I enjoyed the plot, my favourite part of this book was picking apart the dense history of Daevabad, the political and religious beliefs, and the varying cultures of the groups of citizens. I’m always so impressed when an author can skillfully weave this kind of detail into their story and have it feel natural, rather than an info dump. I’ll admit that I got confused and had to have a little help sorting out some of the politics -- shout out to Naima on Twitter for helping me -- but that didn’t detract from my love of the book. I will say that I wish she had been a little more clear early on when laying out the political tensions that are so key to the plot.
The characters in City of Brass are all complex. I don’t think there are any truly likeable characters in this book -- everyone has some shades of grey to them. Our three main characters are Nahri, Dara, and Ali -- Nahri and Ali serve as our points of view. Nahri is our heroine. She’s young, feisty, prickly, and stubborn to a fault -- did I mention she’s also a con artist swindling the wealthy occupiers of Cairo? I absolutely adored Nahri as a character. She has a serious backbone, is incredibly intelligent, and her sense of humor carries her through the events of the book. She’s far from perfect, in fact there were moments in which I wanted to shake her, but that’s what I loved about her.
I don’t want to say much about our two male leads, however I really liked them both. Again, they’re incredibly complex -- Ali has his extreme religious views and Dara has his terrible past and blossoming interest in Nahri -- but that’s what makes them so fascinating and fun to read about. They’re so different, but also so similar in many ways and I loved the dichotomy they created in their interactions with Nahri. I liked that Chakraborty chose Ali as a POV character rather than Dara, who seemed like the obvious choice to me, because Ali's strict religious convictions and his social status make him an incredibly interesting character. I have so many questions about both characters and I cannot wait to read more about them.
One final note -- I have heard some people say that this book has instalove in it and I don’t think that’s true. There’s absolutely instant attraction, but Nahri is rightfully wary of Dara. Trust is a theme in this book and because of that, I don’t think this qualifies as an instalove relationship.
City of Brass is a beautiful, atmospheric novel that will sweep the reader away with its lush storytelling, dense history, and intriguing politics. If you love non-European settings, political backstabbing, court intrigue, a bit of romance, independent ladies, and lots of magic and magical beings, you’ll adore City of Brass. It’s not the easiest read and many have said that it’s slow to start, but I think it’s absolutely worth your time. The only thing holding this book back from a five star rating is the fact that I had some confusion about the basic politics and social relationships that are key to the book (probably because I devoured the book instead of savouring it).
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is a spoiler-free review.
Ever since catching a glimpse of City of Brass’s gorgeous cover, I knew I needed it. Something about it caught my eye and I thought, ‘yep, I’m going to love that book’. I ended up with two copies of this book, my own finished copy and a digital ARC, and I’m not even upset -- it turned out to be the sumptuous, gorgeous fantasy novel I hoped it would be.
To start off, City of Brass is a dense book -- there’s no way around it. Coming in at 544 pages in hardcover, it’s certainly a hefty tome to carry around. But packed within the numerous pages is a beautiful and complex fantasy world. The world building in this book is phenomenal. Apparently Chakraborty is a history buff and it really shows in the world of City of Brass. I find that the best fantasy worlds have a strong history or mythology behind them and this book had both. Now, some readers will not like the level of detail she goes into. If you didn’t like the amount of detail George R. R. Martin puts into food in A Song of Ice and Fire, the descriptions of clothing in Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time, or the complex cultural structures Brandon Sanderson builds in the Stormlight Archives, this may not be the book for you. While I enjoyed the plot, my favourite part of this book was picking apart the dense history of Daevabad, the political and religious beliefs, and the varying cultures of the groups of citizens. I’m always so impressed when an author can skillfully weave this kind of detail into their story and have it feel natural, rather than an info dump. I’ll admit that I got confused and had to have a little help sorting out some of the politics -- shout out to Naima on Twitter for helping me -- but that didn’t detract from my love of the book. I will say that I wish she had been a little more clear early on when laying out the political tensions that are so key to the plot.
The characters in City of Brass are all complex. I don’t think there are any truly likeable characters in this book -- everyone has some shades of grey to them. Our three main characters are Nahri, Dara, and Ali -- Nahri and Ali serve as our points of view. Nahri is our heroine. She’s young, feisty, prickly, and stubborn to a fault -- did I mention she’s also a con artist swindling the wealthy occupiers of Cairo? I absolutely adored Nahri as a character. She has a serious backbone, is incredibly intelligent, and her sense of humor carries her through the events of the book. She’s far from perfect, in fact there were moments in which I wanted to shake her, but that’s what I loved about her.
I don’t want to say much about our two male leads, however I really liked them both. Again, they’re incredibly complex -- Ali has his extreme religious views and Dara has his terrible past and blossoming interest in Nahri -- but that’s what makes them so fascinating and fun to read about. They’re so different, but also so similar in many ways and I loved the dichotomy they created in their interactions with Nahri. I liked that Chakraborty chose Ali as a POV character rather than Dara, who seemed like the obvious choice to me, because Ali's strict religious convictions and his social status make him an incredibly interesting character. I have so many questions about both characters and I cannot wait to read more about them.
One final note -- I have heard some people say that this book has instalove in it and I don’t think that’s true. There’s absolutely instant attraction, but Nahri is rightfully wary of Dara. Trust is a theme in this book and because of that, I don’t think this qualifies as an instalove relationship.
City of Brass is a beautiful, atmospheric novel that will sweep the reader away with its lush storytelling, dense history, and intriguing politics. If you love non-European settings, political backstabbing, court intrigue, a bit of romance, independent ladies, and lots of magic and magical beings, you’ll adore City of Brass. It’s not the easiest read and many have said that it’s slow to start, but I think it’s absolutely worth your time. The only thing holding this book back from a five star rating is the fact that I had some confusion about the basic politics and social relationships that are key to the book (probably because I devoured the book instead of savouring it).
Originally posted to I Should Read That
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.
I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from this book. I had assumed it would be pretty much a straight science fiction novel heavily featuring AI with a bit of mystery. Instead Peters has created an exciting high-concept sci-fi-meets-crime story with a dash of noir.
The rich world building in From Darkest Skies was my favourite part of the book. Peters doesn’t dump too much information on you at once. Instead, you’re able to discover and wonder at a decent pace. The planet Magenta’s surface, weather systems, and lifestyles were integrated well with the story and worked perfectly. The technology in the book is impressive without being overwhelming — the reader isn’t bogged down by technical explanations, confusing science, or mind-numbing explanations. The world building is revealed in a very natural and effective way and I really enjoyed learning more about the planet and the way of life under its surface.
Speaking of technology, I love a good AI book and this one felt very realistic. Liss is an important part of the book but not its main focus, yet you still get a good feel for the tech that created her and duplicated Alysha’s memories. I actually expected her to play a much more significant role in the book — I thought it would be more about Keon’s tentative and budding relationship with the AI. Instead, he spends more time trying to get his working life back together in order to investigate what happened to his wife. The main focus of the book is truly on Alysha and their relationship, not Liss and the ethics behind her existence. I was a little disappointed by this, but I have a feeling this is something we will explore later on in the series.
Keon is our main character, along with Liss and the ever-present ghost of Alysha. Keon is incredibly single-minded — his whole point of existence is to figure out what happened to his wife. Although he’s sometimes annoyingly stubborn, Peters does a good job of making sure the reader is aware of why Keon does what he does. There are other characters in this book, mostly made up of his team. I really enjoyed his relationship with his colleagues — they’re a diverse bunch and played well off of one another. However, this novel is really driven by Keon himself.
Overall, I liked From Darkest Skies. It wasn’t what I was expecting, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. While it doesn’t stand out amongst the crowded sci-fi market, it’s an enjoyable read that I would recommend. I’m very much looking forward to continuing on with this series and have the sequel, From Distant Stars, on my shelf now.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.
I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from this book. I had assumed it would be pretty much a straight science fiction novel heavily featuring AI with a bit of mystery. Instead Peters has created an exciting high-concept sci-fi-meets-crime story with a dash of noir.
The rich world building in From Darkest Skies was my favourite part of the book. Peters doesn’t dump too much information on you at once. Instead, you’re able to discover and wonder at a decent pace. The planet Magenta’s surface, weather systems, and lifestyles were integrated well with the story and worked perfectly. The technology in the book is impressive without being overwhelming — the reader isn’t bogged down by technical explanations, confusing science, or mind-numbing explanations. The world building is revealed in a very natural and effective way and I really enjoyed learning more about the planet and the way of life under its surface.
Speaking of technology, I love a good AI book and this one felt very realistic. Liss is an important part of the book but not its main focus, yet you still get a good feel for the tech that created her and duplicated Alysha’s memories. I actually expected her to play a much more significant role in the book — I thought it would be more about Keon’s tentative and budding relationship with the AI. Instead, he spends more time trying to get his working life back together in order to investigate what happened to his wife. The main focus of the book is truly on Alysha and their relationship, not Liss and the ethics behind her existence. I was a little disappointed by this, but I have a feeling this is something we will explore later on in the series.
Keon is our main character, along with Liss and the ever-present ghost of Alysha. Keon is incredibly single-minded — his whole point of existence is to figure out what happened to his wife. Although he’s sometimes annoyingly stubborn, Peters does a good job of making sure the reader is aware of why Keon does what he does. There are other characters in this book, mostly made up of his team. I really enjoyed his relationship with his colleagues — they’re a diverse bunch and played well off of one another. However, this novel is really driven by Keon himself.
Overall, I liked From Darkest Skies. It wasn’t what I was expecting, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. While it doesn’t stand out amongst the crowded sci-fi market, it’s an enjoyable read that I would recommend. I’m very much looking forward to continuing on with this series and have the sequel, From Distant Stars, on my shelf now.
Originally posted to I Should Read That
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.
I read The Gospel of Loki a couple of years ago and it was one of those books that really grew on me. It stuck with me long after I finished the last page and I really think that it ignited my interest in Norse mythology. I had assumed it would be a standalone novel, so you can imagine my delight when I saw it was getting a sequel.
So the first thing of note is that this can easily be read as a standalone. I suppose you don’t really need to read the first if you have a good knowledge of Norse mythology (the Thor films don’t count, y’all). However I’d highly recommend you do read The Gospel of Loki first because 1) it is fantastic and 2) you’ll have a better grasp on the voices Harris gives to her characters and the various backgrounds and events that come into play in The Testament of Loki. The second thing to note is that Testament is a very different book from its predecessor. Rather than a more traditional setting for Norse mythology, this book is takes place in our modern world. Harris pulls this off incredibly well, however it might come as a bit of a surprise for the unprepared.
Harris has a gift for writing witty, humorous dialogue, so what better character to channel her creativity than Loki? I absolutely adored her portrayal of him in Gospel and was pleased to see that he was just as witty, ridiculous, and fabulous in Testament. The only difference in his character is a good one: he actually gets to interact with mortals in Testament. I loved his interactions with Jumps and the other mortals he meets.
Is this review short and vague? You bet it is! But I think that one of the reasons I enjoyed this book so much is that I didn’t know much going in. So what can you expect in The Testament of Loki? Pizza, cake, self-care, a fluffy white dog, f/f relationships, gods and monsters, chocolate, and a whole lot of fabulousness. Fun and silly, yet heartwarming and meaningful, this is the kind of book that you can tell the author had so much fun writing. I devoured The Testament of Loki in a few sittings and absolutely adored it.
Popping in a quick content warning for self-harm and a couple brief mentions about eating disorders.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.
I read The Gospel of Loki a couple of years ago and it was one of those books that really grew on me. It stuck with me long after I finished the last page and I really think that it ignited my interest in Norse mythology. I had assumed it would be a standalone novel, so you can imagine my delight when I saw it was getting a sequel.
So the first thing of note is that this can easily be read as a standalone. I suppose you don’t really need to read the first if you have a good knowledge of Norse mythology (the Thor films don’t count, y’all). However I’d highly recommend you do read The Gospel of Loki first because 1) it is fantastic and 2) you’ll have a better grasp on the voices Harris gives to her characters and the various backgrounds and events that come into play in The Testament of Loki. The second thing to note is that Testament is a very different book from its predecessor. Rather than a more traditional setting for Norse mythology, this book is takes place in our modern world. Harris pulls this off incredibly well, however it might come as a bit of a surprise for the unprepared.
Harris has a gift for writing witty, humorous dialogue, so what better character to channel her creativity than Loki? I absolutely adored her portrayal of him in Gospel and was pleased to see that he was just as witty, ridiculous, and fabulous in Testament. The only difference in his character is a good one: he actually gets to interact with mortals in Testament. I loved his interactions with Jumps and the other mortals he meets.
Is this review short and vague? You bet it is! But I think that one of the reasons I enjoyed this book so much is that I didn’t know much going in. So what can you expect in The Testament of Loki? Pizza, cake, self-care, a fluffy white dog, f/f relationships, gods and monsters, chocolate, and a whole lot of fabulousness. Fun and silly, yet heartwarming and meaningful, this is the kind of book that you can tell the author had so much fun writing. I devoured The Testament of Loki in a few sittings and absolutely adored it.
Popping in a quick content warning for self-harm and a couple brief mentions about eating disorders.