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Originally posted to I Should Read That
I was sent a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I have been hearing amazing things about The Belles for ages now -- it has been hard to avoid the hype on bookish social media. I know that the hype can often ruin books for me, so when I was given a chance to read an early copy of The Belles, I accepted immediately. I had been looking forward to this book all year, and it did not disappoint!
The first thing that I must say about The Belles is the lush world-building. Everything feels so sweet, like the words are coated in a layer of sweet frosting. You have teacup animals, post balloons, beautiful descriptions of pastries and sweet foods, and the lush, gorgeous setting of the palace and surrounding city. The way that this contrasts to the realities of Camillia’s world is absolutely stunning. It’s a whirling confusion of intense beauty and absolute horror. I don’t think it could have been more perfect in this way.
Camilla is a wonderful character who couldn’t have been more perfect. She’s sharp and smart with a rebellious streak that she tries to contain, but still stays within the social conventions and constraints that have been drilled into her by from birth. She struggles with position as a Belle as she tries to survive in the cutthroat environment she finds herself in. She can be incredibly naive at times, and I think that this might turn some readers off, but her personality so perfectly suits who she is and the world she comes up in. The other characters -- from the other Belles to the royals and nobility -- are people we see much less of, but still enhance the story and will likely become much more important later on. I don’t want to say too much more, but the villain of The Belles is both completely horrifying and slightly over the top, which suits the over-the-top nature of the book.
I really only had a couple of small issues with The Belles. I felt that it could have been a tighter story. The book tends to meander around the main plot and wander off in other directions. I feel like she often is about to discover something important and relevant to the plot, then goes about her business for a couple of weeks before returning to it. There were a few places that could have really done with getting her back on track.
Otherwise, I have a few questions about the world that need to be answered. I found that while the world-building was beautiful and well done, there were a few things that were a little unclear. My preference in fantasy tends to lean toward the incredibly fleshed out worlds and I felt there were a couple small holes. Finally, I have some questions about the romance, but I will hold onto those until the next book, when I believe they may be answered.
Overall, I really enjoyed The Belles -- I had incredibly high expectations for this book and it did not disappoint. The issues and questions I have are small and didn't really distract from the story as a whole. Clayton achieves something I often see in sci-fi but rarely in fantasy -- she manages to take the serious issues surrounding beauty and perfectionism in our society and puts them in a new setting where we can examine, and be rightfully horrified, with our own standards of perfection. It’s a fascinating look at the pressures we place on people, particularly women, to be perfect. The way she balances the lush and gorgeous setting with the horrors of the Belles's magic and the expectations placed on them is astonishing. She manages to create an unsettling, horrifying world that gets its hooks into you and doesn't let go until the last page.
CW: Extreme body dysmorphia and attempted sexual assault.
I was sent a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I have been hearing amazing things about The Belles for ages now -- it has been hard to avoid the hype on bookish social media. I know that the hype can often ruin books for me, so when I was given a chance to read an early copy of The Belles, I accepted immediately. I had been looking forward to this book all year, and it did not disappoint!
The first thing that I must say about The Belles is the lush world-building. Everything feels so sweet, like the words are coated in a layer of sweet frosting. You have teacup animals, post balloons, beautiful descriptions of pastries and sweet foods, and the lush, gorgeous setting of the palace and surrounding city. The way that this contrasts to the realities of Camillia’s world is absolutely stunning. It’s a whirling confusion of intense beauty and absolute horror. I don’t think it could have been more perfect in this way.
Camilla is a wonderful character who couldn’t have been more perfect. She’s sharp and smart with a rebellious streak that she tries to contain, but still stays within the social conventions and constraints that have been drilled into her by from birth. She struggles with position as a Belle as she tries to survive in the cutthroat environment she finds herself in. She can be incredibly naive at times, and I think that this might turn some readers off, but her personality so perfectly suits who she is and the world she comes up in. The other characters -- from the other Belles to the royals and nobility -- are people we see much less of, but still enhance the story and will likely become much more important later on. I don’t want to say too much more, but the villain of The Belles is both completely horrifying and slightly over the top, which suits the over-the-top nature of the book.
I really only had a couple of small issues with The Belles. I felt that it could have been a tighter story. The book tends to meander around the main plot and wander off in other directions. I feel like she often is about to discover something important and relevant to the plot, then goes about her business for a couple of weeks before returning to it. There were a few places that could have really done with getting her back on track.
Otherwise, I have a few questions about the world that need to be answered. I found that while the world-building was beautiful and well done, there were a few things that were a little unclear. My preference in fantasy tends to lean toward the incredibly fleshed out worlds and I felt there were a couple small holes. Finally, I have some questions about the romance, but I will hold onto those until the next book, when I believe they may be answered.
Overall, I really enjoyed The Belles -- I had incredibly high expectations for this book and it did not disappoint. The issues and questions I have are small and didn't really distract from the story as a whole. Clayton achieves something I often see in sci-fi but rarely in fantasy -- she manages to take the serious issues surrounding beauty and perfectionism in our society and puts them in a new setting where we can examine, and be rightfully horrified, with our own standards of perfection. It’s a fascinating look at the pressures we place on people, particularly women, to be perfect. The way she balances the lush and gorgeous setting with the horrors of the Belles's magic and the expectations placed on them is astonishing. She manages to create an unsettling, horrifying world that gets its hooks into you and doesn't let go until the last page.
CW: Extreme body dysmorphia and attempted sexual assault.
Originally posted to I Should Read That
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This edition ties in with the new anthology TV show on Channel 4 in the UK (Amazon Prime in the US, I believe). The book consists of ten short stories, and each story is introduced by one of the writers/directors/producers of that particular episode. As someone who doesn’t usually read short stories, I can confidently say that all ten of these stories are incredibly engaging and well-written. The introductions explain a little of how the corresponding episode was created and the impact the story had on the author. That kind of context really helps put PKD’s influence in perspective and compliments each story so well.
I had a really tough time picking a favourite story. One of the reasons I love classic sci-fi is that you can not only see the incredible influence some authors have had on the genre as a whole, but you can see how they tackle issues that are still so relevant today. PKD handles everything from the surveillance state to consumerism and paranoia in Electric Dreams. My favourites stories were Impossible Planet, The Father-Thing, Human Is, and The Hanging Stranger -- I had a hard time narrowing it down!
It’s incredible how hard hitting these stories are in their own way while still being incredibly fun and entertaining to read. If you’re looking for a place to start with PKD or science fiction in general, Electric Dreams is perfect for you. The stories are about 20 pages long on average, so you can easily fly through this book. The TV show is on Sundays at 9 in the UK, and if you’re watching the show you should absolutely read the stories. There have been some changes to the adaptations already (and we all know the book is always better than the show anyway).
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This edition ties in with the new anthology TV show on Channel 4 in the UK (Amazon Prime in the US, I believe). The book consists of ten short stories, and each story is introduced by one of the writers/directors/producers of that particular episode. As someone who doesn’t usually read short stories, I can confidently say that all ten of these stories are incredibly engaging and well-written. The introductions explain a little of how the corresponding episode was created and the impact the story had on the author. That kind of context really helps put PKD’s influence in perspective and compliments each story so well.
I had a really tough time picking a favourite story. One of the reasons I love classic sci-fi is that you can not only see the incredible influence some authors have had on the genre as a whole, but you can see how they tackle issues that are still so relevant today. PKD handles everything from the surveillance state to consumerism and paranoia in Electric Dreams. My favourites stories were Impossible Planet, The Father-Thing, Human Is, and The Hanging Stranger -- I had a hard time narrowing it down!
It’s incredible how hard hitting these stories are in their own way while still being incredibly fun and entertaining to read. If you’re looking for a place to start with PKD or science fiction in general, Electric Dreams is perfect for you. The stories are about 20 pages long on average, so you can easily fly through this book. The TV show is on Sundays at 9 in the UK, and if you’re watching the show you should absolutely read the stories. There have been some changes to the adaptations already (and we all know the book is always better than the show anyway).
Originally posted to I Should Read That
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? is the second of his books that I’ve read by Philip K. Dick, the first being [b: Electric Dreams|38650847|Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams|Philip K. Dick|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1519139942s/38650847.jpg|56826293] and it has honestly been haunting me since I finished it in November 2017.
What I love about this book, and what turned me off of it when I initially tried to read it years ago, is that it’s an incredibly cerebral book. Much like it’s successor Bladerunner, it is both incredibly quiet and speaks volumes about human nature and our potential future despite its slow start. Funny enough, Rick Deckard isn’t the most memorable character in this book, despite being the character famously played by Harrison Ford in the film. John Isidore and his story is really what stuck with me. He’s such an incredibly tragic and haunting character.
I really loved this book, and the gorgeous edition I read, and would highly recommend it to any sci-if reader, but not necessarily to someone who is new to the genre.
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? is the second of his books that I’ve read by Philip K. Dick, the first being [b: Electric Dreams|38650847|Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams|Philip K. Dick|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1519139942s/38650847.jpg|56826293] and it has honestly been haunting me since I finished it in November 2017.
What I love about this book, and what turned me off of it when I initially tried to read it years ago, is that it’s an incredibly cerebral book. Much like it’s successor Bladerunner, it is both incredibly quiet and speaks volumes about human nature and our potential future despite its slow start. Funny enough, Rick Deckard isn’t the most memorable character in this book, despite being the character famously played by Harrison Ford in the film. John Isidore and his story is really what stuck with me. He’s such an incredibly tragic and haunting character.
I really loved this book, and the gorgeous edition I read, and would highly recommend it to any sci-if reader, but not necessarily to someone who is new to the genre.
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.
First things first, if you’re expecting a supernatural link between the blackbirds falling from the sky and the missing Olivia, forget about it now. Nothing in this book is supernatural, nothing in this book is fantasy. I find it weird that it seems to be marketed that way because I think people will be disappointed when they are drawn in by that aspect of the plot and find out that it doesn’t really exist. The story is compelling enough without the 5,000 blackbirds included in the copy or the story at all! I would have made the choice to completely remove it, to be honest.
Now that the negative stuff is out of the way, I really enjoyed this book. The story is told from the perspective of Alex, Olivia’s younger sister. We learn what happens to Olivia through Alex’s eyes, feeling her conflicting, wide-ranging emotions all the way through. Alex worships her sister, despite the fact that they’re two very different people. Alex is content with her life in Orkney, a remote set of islands off the coast of northernmost Scotland. Olivia, on the other hand, is finishing up her time on the island and ready to move to London in a few months. Alex isn’t just dealing with her sister’s mysterious disappearance – she’s struggling with the fact that Olivia will probably never visit Orkney again.
I really liked Alex as a character, as frustrating as she could be. But you know what, she’s a teenage girl dealing with one of the worst possible situations a person can find themselves in. her emotions are raw and real, her grief is striking. Her relationship with Detective Birkin, who is assigned to Oliva’s case, is unusual and believable. As Alex’s family struggles to stay together, she finds other ways to project her feelings. We get two or three chapters from Olivia’s perspective that keep the story interesting –it’s like we get a peak behind the curtains to see what’s really going on.
This is not a thriller, it’s not really a mystery. It is a study of grief and how tragic events can push us apart or bring us together. I really enjoyed this book, although it was a little slow in parts. I enjoyed the fact that the emphasis was not on the investigation surrounding Olivia’s disappearance but on how it affected Olivia’s loved ones. Alex is a reliable, but difficult narrator who is so believably human.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.
First things first, if you’re expecting a supernatural link between the blackbirds falling from the sky and the missing Olivia, forget about it now. Nothing in this book is supernatural, nothing in this book is fantasy. I find it weird that it seems to be marketed that way because I think people will be disappointed when they are drawn in by that aspect of the plot and find out that it doesn’t really exist. The story is compelling enough without the 5,000 blackbirds included in the copy or the story at all! I would have made the choice to completely remove it, to be honest.
Now that the negative stuff is out of the way, I really enjoyed this book. The story is told from the perspective of Alex, Olivia’s younger sister. We learn what happens to Olivia through Alex’s eyes, feeling her conflicting, wide-ranging emotions all the way through. Alex worships her sister, despite the fact that they’re two very different people. Alex is content with her life in Orkney, a remote set of islands off the coast of northernmost Scotland. Olivia, on the other hand, is finishing up her time on the island and ready to move to London in a few months. Alex isn’t just dealing with her sister’s mysterious disappearance – she’s struggling with the fact that Olivia will probably never visit Orkney again.
I really liked Alex as a character, as frustrating as she could be. But you know what, she’s a teenage girl dealing with one of the worst possible situations a person can find themselves in. her emotions are raw and real, her grief is striking. Her relationship with Detective Birkin, who is assigned to Oliva’s case, is unusual and believable. As Alex’s family struggles to stay together, she finds other ways to project her feelings. We get two or three chapters from Olivia’s perspective that keep the story interesting –it’s like we get a peak behind the curtains to see what’s really going on.
This is not a thriller, it’s not really a mystery. It is a study of grief and how tragic events can push us apart or bring us together. I really enjoyed this book, although it was a little slow in parts. I enjoyed the fact that the emphasis was not on the investigation surrounding Olivia’s disappearance but on how it affected Olivia’s loved ones. Alex is a reliable, but difficult narrator who is so believably human.
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 for Tarnished City, but contains major spoilers for [b: Gilded Cage|22718751|The Gilded Cage|Lucinda Gray|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1465045045s/22718751.jpg|42247032].
I recently read Gilded Cage and while I wasn’t hugely impressed by the beginning, the story really picked up and it had an incredible ending. I had a feeling that the plot would continue to stay strong through the sequel, and I was right. Tarnished City is a thrilling, fast-paced read that will have you on the edge of your seat until the very end. It continues to build upon the interesting concept of the first book and remains one of the most brutal YA fantasy books out there.
I find reviewing sequels really difficult, so I’m going to keep this short. It took me a little while to fall back into this world, but I ended up fully immersed and really enjoyed the ride. While it’s strange to read about a modern Britain with a fantasy twist, I really enjoy the world building in these novels. James continues to expand on the world and we get to see more than just Kyneston. From Scotland to London, James shows us the broader picture and implications of the slavedays and I really appreciated it. Alongside this, we get a little more detail about what the laws around slavedays are (I, for one, was wondering why people don’t just delay indefinitely and just don’t do them). James skillfully presents a more full picture of life in her version of Britain, which makes the story much stronger.
I won’t say much about the characters, but everyone grows and changes over the course of this book. My favourites from the first book don’t match up against my favourites from the sequel, which is unusual for me. Some characters took me by surprise, some with delight and some with horror, but no one was boring. Even Abi, who was so dull in the first book, begins to show some spirit. We spend plenty of time with old favourites, but are introduced to a handful of new characters that are just as interesting and compelling as our original cast.
If you liked Gilded Cage, you’re going to love Tarnished City. From satisfying moments to deeply infuriating ones, this book will keep you on your toes, and sets up quite an explosive ending in Bright Ruin.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free for Tarnished City, but contains major spoilers for [b: Gilded Cage|22718751|The Gilded Cage|Lucinda Gray|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1465045045s/22718751.jpg|42247032].
I recently read Gilded Cage and while I wasn’t hugely impressed by the beginning, the story really picked up and it had an incredible ending. I had a feeling that the plot would continue to stay strong through the sequel, and I was right. Tarnished City is a thrilling, fast-paced read that will have you on the edge of your seat until the very end. It continues to build upon the interesting concept of the first book and remains one of the most brutal YA fantasy books out there.
I find reviewing sequels really difficult, so I’m going to keep this short. It took me a little while to fall back into this world, but I ended up fully immersed and really enjoyed the ride. While it’s strange to read about a modern Britain with a fantasy twist, I really enjoy the world building in these novels. James continues to expand on the world and we get to see more than just Kyneston. From Scotland to London, James shows us the broader picture and implications of the slavedays and I really appreciated it. Alongside this, we get a little more detail about what the laws around slavedays are (I, for one, was wondering why people don’t just delay indefinitely and just don’t do them). James skillfully presents a more full picture of life in her version of Britain, which makes the story much stronger.
I won’t say much about the characters, but everyone grows and changes over the course of this book. My favourites from the first book don’t match up against my favourites from the sequel, which is unusual for me. Some characters took me by surprise, some with delight and some with horror, but no one was boring. Even Abi, who was so dull in the first book, begins to show some spirit. We spend plenty of time with old favourites, but are introduced to a handful of new characters that are just as interesting and compelling as our original cast.
If you liked Gilded Cage, you’re going to love Tarnished City. From satisfying moments to deeply infuriating ones, this book will keep you on your toes, and sets up quite an explosive ending in Bright Ruin.
Originally posted to I Should Read That
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review may contain minor spoilers for The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue.
[b: The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue|29283884|The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue (Montague Siblings, #1)|Mackenzi Lee|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1492601464s/29283884.jpg|49527118] was a smash hit last year, and the sequel has been getting so much attention and hype. I really enjoyed the first book, although the fantasy elements threw me off a bit. Rather than following our beloved Monty and Percy, The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy follows Monty's younger sister Felicity. Felicity was my favourite character in the first book and I was so thrilled to hear she was getting her own book. Lady's Guide was so hyped for me and I have to say that it more than lived up to my expectations.
This book is a strong contender for ‘best book of the year’ for a number of reasons, but namely for the fact that it contains all of my favourite things. A fierce feminist novel about women supporting women and women saving themselves, The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy is a book I wish I had when I was a teenager. Felicity’s struggles to be taken seriously as a candidate for medical school and in society in general are both infuriating and heartbreaking. I thought that the way Lee tackled misogyny in the time period was perfectly executed -- the absolute frustration and fury the reader feels on Felicity’s behalf is so strong. It didn't feel 'in your face' to me at all, an issue I've had in some books and films, but it is the main theme throughout the novel. I also felt that the fantasy elements were very well done, although this could have just been the fact that I was expecting them this time.
The fantastic characters really drive this book --Felicity, Johanna, and Sim are a masterclass in well-written women. Felicity is our narrator and she’s the perfect example of a character that is able to identify her prejudices, some of which are quite upsetting, and change them. She’s flawed and therefore has the capacity to grow and change as a character. I don’t want to say too much about Felicity or anyone else, but I will say that this book is the perfect, vicious take down of the ‘not like other girls’ trope -- other authors should absolutely take note.
Basically, The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy is perfect, and this is a terrible review because I cannot possibly put into words how much I loved it. This is the sort of book that not only improves upon its delightful prequel, it is a book I desperately wish I had when I was a teen. Lee has such an incredible talent for creating characters and mayhem, and I cannot wait to get my hands on whatever she writes next.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review may contain minor spoilers for The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue.
[b: The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue|29283884|The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue (Montague Siblings, #1)|Mackenzi Lee|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1492601464s/29283884.jpg|49527118] was a smash hit last year, and the sequel has been getting so much attention and hype. I really enjoyed the first book, although the fantasy elements threw me off a bit. Rather than following our beloved Monty and Percy, The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy follows Monty's younger sister Felicity. Felicity was my favourite character in the first book and I was so thrilled to hear she was getting her own book. Lady's Guide was so hyped for me and I have to say that it more than lived up to my expectations.
This book is a strong contender for ‘best book of the year’ for a number of reasons, but namely for the fact that it contains all of my favourite things. A fierce feminist novel about women supporting women and women saving themselves, The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy is a book I wish I had when I was a teenager. Felicity’s struggles to be taken seriously as a candidate for medical school and in society in general are both infuriating and heartbreaking. I thought that the way Lee tackled misogyny in the time period was perfectly executed -- the absolute frustration and fury the reader feels on Felicity’s behalf is so strong. It didn't feel 'in your face' to me at all, an issue I've had in some books and films, but it is the main theme throughout the novel. I also felt that the fantasy elements were very well done, although this could have just been the fact that I was expecting them this time.
The fantastic characters really drive this book --Felicity, Johanna, and Sim are a masterclass in well-written women. Felicity is our narrator and she’s the perfect example of a character that is able to identify her prejudices, some of which are quite upsetting, and change them. She’s flawed and therefore has the capacity to grow and change as a character. I don’t want to say too much about Felicity or anyone else, but I will say that this book is the perfect, vicious take down of the ‘not like other girls’ trope -- other authors should absolutely take note.
Basically, The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy is perfect, and this is a terrible review because I cannot possibly put into words how much I loved it. This is the sort of book that not only improves upon its delightful prequel, it is a book I desperately wish I had when I was a teen. Lee has such an incredible talent for creating characters and mayhem, and I cannot wait to get my hands on whatever she writes next.
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.
You may have already heard buzz about The Silent Patient. Set to be one of the biggest thriller debuts of 2019, this book has so much hype surrounding it already. I can’t claim to be an expert on the thrillers, but I absolutely love reading them and find that a great thriller can be one of the most rewarding reading experiences for me. So did The Silent Patient live up to the hype?
I don’t want to give anything away, so this review will be pretty short. The answer to my above questions is that, well, no it didn’t live up to the hype for me. That’s not to say that The Silent Patient isn’t a good book -- it is an incredibly well-paced page turner that will keep you reading late into the night -- but I didn't think there was anything incredibly unusual or groundbreaking about it. This, however, probably has more to do with my expectations than anything else. The way it is being marketed made me think that it would be a genre-redefining book like Gone Girl was. In reality, The Silent Patient is a pretty standard thriller with the standard twists and turns that a reader expects from thrillers these days. My reaction to the big, twisted ending was ‘huh, interesting’ and nothing more -- I certainly didn’t see it coming, but it didn’t blow me away. I feel that if The Silent Patient was published 3-5 years ago, it would have been a much more explosive book for me.
I liked the characters in this book well enough, particularly Theo, but I didn’t get too attached or invested in any of them. There was something about Alicia’s characterisation that unsettled me, and I don’t think it was intentional. She feels like a hot, empty vessel for the men around her to react to. In this way, she felt so flat and one-dimensional when she should have been intriguing and fascinating. I think this kind of female character just isn’t for me, but on the other hand, character development is difficult when a character never speaks.
Overall, The Silent Patient wasn't necessarily for me, but is worth your time if you decide to pick it up. But is it the next big thing in the genre? Probably not. But it will satisfy the craving for a fast-paced thriller.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.
You may have already heard buzz about The Silent Patient. Set to be one of the biggest thriller debuts of 2019, this book has so much hype surrounding it already. I can’t claim to be an expert on the thrillers, but I absolutely love reading them and find that a great thriller can be one of the most rewarding reading experiences for me. So did The Silent Patient live up to the hype?
I don’t want to give anything away, so this review will be pretty short. The answer to my above questions is that, well, no it didn’t live up to the hype for me. That’s not to say that The Silent Patient isn’t a good book -- it is an incredibly well-paced page turner that will keep you reading late into the night -- but I didn't think there was anything incredibly unusual or groundbreaking about it. This, however, probably has more to do with my expectations than anything else. The way it is being marketed made me think that it would be a genre-redefining book like Gone Girl was. In reality, The Silent Patient is a pretty standard thriller with the standard twists and turns that a reader expects from thrillers these days. My reaction to the big, twisted ending was ‘huh, interesting’ and nothing more -- I certainly didn’t see it coming, but it didn’t blow me away. I feel that if The Silent Patient was published 3-5 years ago, it would have been a much more explosive book for me.
I liked the characters in this book well enough, particularly Theo, but I didn’t get too attached or invested in any of them. There was something about Alicia’s characterisation that unsettled me, and I don’t think it was intentional. She feels like a hot, empty vessel for the men around her to react to. In this way, she felt so flat and one-dimensional when she should have been intriguing and fascinating. I think this kind of female character just isn’t for me, but on the other hand, character development is difficult when a character never speaks.
Overall, The Silent Patient wasn't necessarily for me, but is worth your time if you decide to pick it up. But is it the next big thing in the genre? Probably not. But it will satisfy the craving for a fast-paced thriller.
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 Martian was one of the books that really got me into reading sci-fi and it holds a very special place in my heart. So when I heard that Andy Weir was coming out with a new book, I was so incredibly excited. My expectations for Artemis were high, and I’m so happy to say that they were surpassed.
I’m going to start out by saying you shouldn’t come into Artemis expecting The Martian 2.0 because that’s not what you’re going to get. While they’re both science fiction novels, they’re in two completely different subgenres. While The Martian is based in or around our time, Artemis is set in the not-so-distant future. The Martian’s Mark Matney is a goofy yet heroic man who must survive on the surface of a lifeless planet. Artemis’s Jazz Bashara is a criminal who's goal in life is to become rich. Different books, different characters, different times, different kinds of sci-fi. Despite this, it’s going to be really difficult to not compare them.
There is not much to say about the setting of Artemis that isn’t said in the Goodreads copy. The timeline is a little unclear, but the book takes place about 100 years after the moon landing in Artemis -- the first city on the moon. Weir has, of course, constructed an incredibly cool and feasible world for this book down to mundane details like the fire safety protocols and maintenance of the lunar city. Because of this, everything about the setting feels so real, down to the everyday lives of the people living here.
A question I think a lot of people will ask about this book is whether or not the science is realistic. I know there was some debate over the science in The Martian, but honestly I am not the right person to ask. One of the best things about The Martian was that the science was easily understandable, and Artemis is very much the same way. The physics of this unfamiliar environment are adapted into the plot so incredibly well and as usual, Weir explains what’s going on pretty clearly.
What really makes this book work is Jazz Bashara, our leading lady. She is an absolutely astounding character. Jazz is not a good person -- in fact, she’s criminal. She’s the perfect character for a setting the verges on mundane and gritty. She’s a foul-mouthed smuggler who is so incredibly intelligent and talented, but has chosen to live her life in the exact way she wants. She actually sounds like a particularly unpleasant person to be around -- except maybe as a drinking buddy. She’s the kind of friend who would always be hitting you up for money and who you’d have to shove into a taxi at the end of every night out. So what is it about her that works so well? Jazz is a brilliantly written character. I found that everything about her was just so believable from her terrible taste in beer, to her untapped potential and pride, her backstory that will be so familiar to many of us, to her wildly cheesy personality and jokes. You root for her every step of the way, particularly as her backstory is revealed. She’s no Superwoman, she’s no hero. She’s just a normal person, and I think that’s what makes her brilliant.
Artemis is a fast-paced adventure that is an absolute blast to read. Weir retained the humor and intense plot that made The Martian such a great book, but managed to step out from the shadow of his bestselling debut. If you go into this book expecting a rehashing of The Martian, you’re going to be disappointed. If you are hoping for a fantastic science fiction story, look no further.
I highly recommend this book -- whether you’re a sci-fi reader or a newcomer to the genre, it is sure to make you laugh, keep you riveted, and demand your attention.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.
The Martian was one of the books that really got me into reading sci-fi and it holds a very special place in my heart. So when I heard that Andy Weir was coming out with a new book, I was so incredibly excited. My expectations for Artemis were high, and I’m so happy to say that they were surpassed.
I’m going to start out by saying you shouldn’t come into Artemis expecting The Martian 2.0 because that’s not what you’re going to get. While they’re both science fiction novels, they’re in two completely different subgenres. While The Martian is based in or around our time, Artemis is set in the not-so-distant future. The Martian’s Mark Matney is a goofy yet heroic man who must survive on the surface of a lifeless planet. Artemis’s Jazz Bashara is a criminal who's goal in life is to become rich. Different books, different characters, different times, different kinds of sci-fi. Despite this, it’s going to be really difficult to not compare them.
There is not much to say about the setting of Artemis that isn’t said in the Goodreads copy. The timeline is a little unclear, but the book takes place about 100 years after the moon landing in Artemis -- the first city on the moon. Weir has, of course, constructed an incredibly cool and feasible world for this book down to mundane details like the fire safety protocols and maintenance of the lunar city. Because of this, everything about the setting feels so real, down to the everyday lives of the people living here.
A question I think a lot of people will ask about this book is whether or not the science is realistic. I know there was some debate over the science in The Martian, but honestly I am not the right person to ask. One of the best things about The Martian was that the science was easily understandable, and Artemis is very much the same way. The physics of this unfamiliar environment are adapted into the plot so incredibly well and as usual, Weir explains what’s going on pretty clearly.
What really makes this book work is Jazz Bashara, our leading lady. She is an absolutely astounding character. Jazz is not a good person -- in fact, she’s criminal. She’s the perfect character for a setting the verges on mundane and gritty. She’s a foul-mouthed smuggler who is so incredibly intelligent and talented, but has chosen to live her life in the exact way she wants. She actually sounds like a particularly unpleasant person to be around -- except maybe as a drinking buddy. She’s the kind of friend who would always be hitting you up for money and who you’d have to shove into a taxi at the end of every night out. So what is it about her that works so well? Jazz is a brilliantly written character. I found that everything about her was just so believable from her terrible taste in beer, to her untapped potential and pride, her backstory that will be so familiar to many of us, to her wildly cheesy personality and jokes. You root for her every step of the way, particularly as her backstory is revealed. She’s no Superwoman, she’s no hero. She’s just a normal person, and I think that’s what makes her brilliant.
Artemis is a fast-paced adventure that is an absolute blast to read. Weir retained the humor and intense plot that made The Martian such a great book, but managed to step out from the shadow of his bestselling debut. If you go into this book expecting a rehashing of The Martian, you’re going to be disappointed. If you are hoping for a fantastic science fiction story, look no further.
I highly recommend this book -- whether you’re a sci-fi reader or a newcomer to the genre, it is sure to make you laugh, keep you riveted, and demand your attention.