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Originally posted to I Should Read That
This is a spoiler free review for King of Assassins, however it will contain spoilers for Age of Assassins and Blood of Assassins.
I discovered the Wounded Kingdom series in mid-2019 and devoured it before the year-end -- very uncharacteristic for me, a notoriously slow series reader. I loved the first two books, but was a little wary of finishing it up, as I was seriously let down by two of my most anticipated trilogy conclusions of 2019. However, King of Assassins proved to be the best book in the trilogy and one of the most satisfying ends to a series I’ve ever read.
I don’t want to say a huge amount about King of Assassins, as it takes place so many years after Blood of Assassins and the story and characters have changed so much. It’s well worth diving in knowing as little as possible and experiencing how characters and their situations have shifted and evolved over the years. What I can say is that I absolutely loved the direction that Barker took the story in for the final arc of the trilogy. Throughout the series, he has done a great job of making each book distinct, yet completely connected to the other -- it comes full circle in the most perfect way. I cannot think of a better way to end the series. Although you may cry. I cried.
My favourite aspect of this book is comparing the characters from their introduction in Age of Assassins to to their finished story arc in King of Assassins. Girton is, of course, still a complex man and such a compelling character, but someone else stole the show for me. If you had told me that Ador would end up being my favourite character in the series and he must be protected at all costs, I would have laughed in your face. Ador has some of the best and most believeable character arcs I've ever read and it was such a pleasure to see such an incredibly well-written character.
I cannot recommend The Wounded Kingdom series more highly -- it is one of the most polished and satisfying trilogies I've ever read and I will not stop shouting about it. If you haven't picked up King of Assassins yet, then I highly encourage you do it soon!
This is a spoiler free review for King of Assassins, however it will contain spoilers for Age of Assassins and Blood of Assassins.
I discovered the Wounded Kingdom series in mid-2019 and devoured it before the year-end -- very uncharacteristic for me, a notoriously slow series reader. I loved the first two books, but was a little wary of finishing it up, as I was seriously let down by two of my most anticipated trilogy conclusions of 2019. However, King of Assassins proved to be the best book in the trilogy and one of the most satisfying ends to a series I’ve ever read.
I don’t want to say a huge amount about King of Assassins, as it takes place so many years after Blood of Assassins and the story and characters have changed so much. It’s well worth diving in knowing as little as possible and experiencing how characters and their situations have shifted and evolved over the years. What I can say is that I absolutely loved the direction that Barker took the story in for the final arc of the trilogy. Throughout the series, he has done a great job of making each book distinct, yet completely connected to the other -- it comes full circle in the most perfect way. I cannot think of a better way to end the series. Although you may cry. I cried.
My favourite aspect of this book is comparing the characters from their introduction in Age of Assassins to to their finished story arc in King of Assassins. Girton is, of course, still a complex man and such a compelling character, but someone else stole the show for me. If you had told me that Ador would end up being my favourite character in the series and he must be protected at all costs, I would have laughed in your face. Ador has some of the best and most believeable character arcs I've ever read and it was such a pleasure to see such an incredibly well-written character.
I cannot recommend The Wounded Kingdom series more highly -- it is one of the most polished and satisfying trilogies I've ever read and I will not stop shouting about it. If you haven't picked up King of Assassins yet, then I highly encourage you do it soon!
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.
I’ll be honest, as soon as I heard ‘psychic cats’ I was all in on Chilling Effect. I love space opera, I love off-beat heroes, and I love cats. While banter-y ‘squad’ sci-fi books don’t tend to work for me (see my burning hatred of Aurora Rising), but there was something about Chilling Effect that just worked. While it wasn’t perfect, it was so much damn fun.
Chilling Effect is a plot-driven book filled with pop culture references (I spotted Star Wars, Deep Space Nine, and Portal, among others) and loads of fun, snappy dialogue. It moves at breakneck speed and kept me turning the pages well past my bedtime. There is a lot of plot packed into this book -- I feel like it actually could have been teased out and made into two books with more in-depth characterisation (see below). However, this does mean that I tore through Chilling Effect quickly and I definitely enjoyed the ride.
For me, a lot of the weaknesses of the book come from the characters. While I really liked Eva, she was the only POV character and therefore was the only one that felt fleshed-out. She is not your classic hero -- she's stubborn, foul mouthed, violent, and a bit mad. However, I really understood her, her absolutely frantic thought process, and the reasons she made certain decisions -- she's such an incredibly fun character and I enjoyed her immensely. However, the other characters did fall a little flat for me. I’d love to have seen some of the story through Vaskar, Min, or Pink’s eyes, especially as they were kept out of the loop of Eva’s situation and plans -- this would have given them more depth and added a new, interesting layer to the story. In fact, I really just felt like I didn’t know them at all and sort of forgot about them as soon as they were off the page (there's even another crew member, but I don't even remember his name because he's so far in the background for the majority of the book). I also didn’t get the sense of camaraderie that is the most joyful part of these 'squad' stories -- the chemistry just wasn't there. At one point, Pink mentions that Eva is her best friend and I thought ‘really? Is she?'. I hope we get to see more from the other characters in later books because they had so much potential to be awesome.
Chilling Effect wasn’t the strongest science fiction book I’ve read, but damn was is fun! I really enjoyed the quirky world building, the fun writing, and the off-beat plot. If you’re looking for a fun book for the summer and love picking out pop culture references in books, you should definitely give Chilling Effect a try.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is a spoiler-free review.
I’ll be honest, as soon as I heard ‘psychic cats’ I was all in on Chilling Effect. I love space opera, I love off-beat heroes, and I love cats. While banter-y ‘squad’ sci-fi books don’t tend to work for me (see my burning hatred of Aurora Rising), but there was something about Chilling Effect that just worked. While it wasn’t perfect, it was so much damn fun.
Chilling Effect is a plot-driven book filled with pop culture references (I spotted Star Wars, Deep Space Nine, and Portal, among others) and loads of fun, snappy dialogue. It moves at breakneck speed and kept me turning the pages well past my bedtime. There is a lot of plot packed into this book -- I feel like it actually could have been teased out and made into two books with more in-depth characterisation (see below). However, this does mean that I tore through Chilling Effect quickly and I definitely enjoyed the ride.
For me, a lot of the weaknesses of the book come from the characters. While I really liked Eva, she was the only POV character and therefore was the only one that felt fleshed-out. She is not your classic hero -- she's stubborn, foul mouthed, violent, and a bit mad. However, I really understood her, her absolutely frantic thought process, and the reasons she made certain decisions -- she's such an incredibly fun character and I enjoyed her immensely. However, the other characters did fall a little flat for me. I’d love to have seen some of the story through Vaskar, Min, or Pink’s eyes, especially as they were kept out of the loop of Eva’s situation and plans -- this would have given them more depth and added a new, interesting layer to the story. In fact, I really just felt like I didn’t know them at all and sort of forgot about them as soon as they were off the page (there's even another crew member, but I don't even remember his name because he's so far in the background for the majority of the book). I also didn’t get the sense of camaraderie that is the most joyful part of these 'squad' stories -- the chemistry just wasn't there. At one point, Pink mentions that Eva is her best friend and I thought ‘really? Is she?'. I hope we get to see more from the other characters in later books because they had so much potential to be awesome.
Chilling Effect wasn’t the strongest science fiction book I’ve read, but damn was is fun! I really enjoyed the quirky world building, the fun writing, and the off-beat plot. If you’re looking for a fun book for the summer and love picking out pop culture references in books, you should definitely give Chilling Effect a try.
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.
I had been hearing about The Wolf of Oren-yaro for ages thanks to the wonderful folks at The Fantasy Inn, so this book was high on my list of most anticipated reads for 2020. My expectations for this book were sky high, and they were absolutely met. Combining a grim story with high stakes, political intrigue, a healthy dose of deception and betrayal, and a dash of amazing humour, The Wolf of Oren-yaro is likely to make my all-time favourite fantasy list.
I will admit that I found this book a little slow to start. There’s a huge amount of background information that needed to be established before the plot could really kick into gear. I picked up and put down The Wolf of Oren-yaro a few times before it finally stuck, but I was totally absorbed once it clicked with my brain. I adored the world, the clashing cultures, the food and clothes, and the intricate politics Villoso injects into her novel. She does such a fantastic job of seamlessly weaving these elements, as well as all of the history and political machinations, into the story and you don’t feel like you’re being overloaded with information. At times it truly feels like you could be reading historical fiction.
This book really shines with its incredible characters. Talyien -- our only POV character -- is a wonderfully complex woman. She’s one of those ‘difficult women’ that I think will either really appeal with readers or just wont be for everyone. I personally love an anti-heroine and Talyien is basically my perfect fantasy character. She’s incredibly prickly, proud, often short-sighted, and full of rage, but she has a deep compassion for her family and her people. She’s also a mother, which I completely adore because you just don’t see mothers as heroines in fantasy enough (mothers in fantasy are either uptight matrons ruining everyone's fun, so far in the background that they're basically non-existent, or dead). Her role as a mother and her affection for her son and family adds such a wonderful layer to her character that helps create a fantastic balance between the ‘Bitch Queen’ that others see her as and the woman she is in reality.
There are a host of wonderful secondary characters in this book as well, most notably Khine, who I suspect will be a fan favouite (and is a Justine favourite too!). I adored the lovable con artist and his humour and character balanced Talyien out so well -- he made her feel human. I don’t want to say too much about him or other characters from the book, but there’s a whole host of well fleshed out, multidimensional secondary characters who are just wonderful to read about and fill out the story so well.
In case you can’t tell, I adored The Wolf of Oren-yaro. A fantastic and fast-paced fantasy novel, it will sink its hooks into you. I absolutely cannot wait to read the rest of the trilogy!
CW: forced prostitution, captivity
4.5 out of 5 stars
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is a spoiler-free review.
I had been hearing about The Wolf of Oren-yaro for ages thanks to the wonderful folks at The Fantasy Inn, so this book was high on my list of most anticipated reads for 2020. My expectations for this book were sky high, and they were absolutely met. Combining a grim story with high stakes, political intrigue, a healthy dose of deception and betrayal, and a dash of amazing humour, The Wolf of Oren-yaro is likely to make my all-time favourite fantasy list.
I will admit that I found this book a little slow to start. There’s a huge amount of background information that needed to be established before the plot could really kick into gear. I picked up and put down The Wolf of Oren-yaro a few times before it finally stuck, but I was totally absorbed once it clicked with my brain. I adored the world, the clashing cultures, the food and clothes, and the intricate politics Villoso injects into her novel. She does such a fantastic job of seamlessly weaving these elements, as well as all of the history and political machinations, into the story and you don’t feel like you’re being overloaded with information. At times it truly feels like you could be reading historical fiction.
This book really shines with its incredible characters. Talyien -- our only POV character -- is a wonderfully complex woman. She’s one of those ‘difficult women’ that I think will either really appeal with readers or just wont be for everyone. I personally love an anti-heroine and Talyien is basically my perfect fantasy character. She’s incredibly prickly, proud, often short-sighted, and full of rage, but she has a deep compassion for her family and her people. She’s also a mother, which I completely adore because you just don’t see mothers as heroines in fantasy enough (mothers in fantasy are either uptight matrons ruining everyone's fun, so far in the background that they're basically non-existent, or dead). Her role as a mother and her affection for her son and family adds such a wonderful layer to her character that helps create a fantastic balance between the ‘Bitch Queen’ that others see her as and the woman she is in reality.
There are a host of wonderful secondary characters in this book as well, most notably Khine, who I suspect will be a fan favouite (and is a Justine favourite too!). I adored the lovable con artist and his humour and character balanced Talyien out so well -- he made her feel human. I don’t want to say too much about him or other characters from the book, but there’s a whole host of well fleshed out, multidimensional secondary characters who are just wonderful to read about and fill out the story so well.
In case you can’t tell, I adored The Wolf of Oren-yaro. A fantastic and fast-paced fantasy novel, it will sink its hooks into you. I absolutely cannot wait to read the rest of the trilogy!
CW: forced prostitution, captivity
4.5 out of 5 stars
Originally posted to I Should Read That
This is a spoiler-free review.
The Fifth Season is one of those books that I'd had sitting on my shelf for years, just waiting for me to decide it was the right time to read it. I knew I would love this book, so why didn’t I pick it up sooner? I have no idea. Fortunately, a friend recently convinced me to pull it off the shelf, and I’m so happy she did. For me, The Fifth Season more than lived up to the incredible hype and prestige it has gained over the years.
Honestly, there’s just not much I can say about The Fifth Season that hasn’t already been said. I also truly believe that this is a book to go into knowing as little as possible, so today I am going to be brief. With the exception that it's a dark book, I didn't really know what to expect when I turned to the first page, and I really think that helped elevate my enjoyment.
This book is a little slow to start -- it’s definitely a slow burn plot -- however, it was so beautifully written that I found myself sinking in anyway. It took me awhile to get into the rhythm of the writing, but once I got there I found that everything people had told me was true -- the world building was magnificent and intricate, the characters were fantastic and complex, and it had a hard-hitting and powerful narrative. The last 100 pages are like getting punch in the face repeatedly and it was just fantastic -- you know I love it when books do this. I cannot wait to read The Obelisk Gate and feel all these emotions over again.
If you’re like me and were waiting for the perfect time to read this book, take my advice and stop waiting. A stunning, unique, and powerful book, The Fifth Season will not be suited to every reader but it has more than earned the praise it has received since publication.
CW: lots of child death, seriously.
4.5 out of 5 stars
This is a spoiler-free review.
The Fifth Season is one of those books that I'd had sitting on my shelf for years, just waiting for me to decide it was the right time to read it. I knew I would love this book, so why didn’t I pick it up sooner? I have no idea. Fortunately, a friend recently convinced me to pull it off the shelf, and I’m so happy she did. For me, The Fifth Season more than lived up to the incredible hype and prestige it has gained over the years.
Honestly, there’s just not much I can say about The Fifth Season that hasn’t already been said. I also truly believe that this is a book to go into knowing as little as possible, so today I am going to be brief. With the exception that it's a dark book, I didn't really know what to expect when I turned to the first page, and I really think that helped elevate my enjoyment.
This book is a little slow to start -- it’s definitely a slow burn plot -- however, it was so beautifully written that I found myself sinking in anyway. It took me awhile to get into the rhythm of the writing, but once I got there I found that everything people had told me was true -- the world building was magnificent and intricate, the characters were fantastic and complex, and it had a hard-hitting and powerful narrative. The last 100 pages are like getting punch in the face repeatedly and it was just fantastic -- you know I love it when books do this. I cannot wait to read The Obelisk Gate and feel all these emotions over again.
If you’re like me and were waiting for the perfect time to read this book, take my advice and stop waiting. A stunning, unique, and powerful book, The Fifth Season will not be suited to every reader but it has more than earned the praise it has received since publication.
CW: lots of child death, seriously.
4.5 out of 5 stars
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.
A Queen in Hiding is a fantasy debut perfect for anyone tired of waiting for the next installment in their favourite series to release. One of the big marketing points of this book is the fact that one book in the series will come out per month from January through April 2020, making it the perfect bingeable series While I am not a series binger myself, I think that this will be perfect for anyone in need of a quick fantasy fix.
A Queen in Hiding is the beginning of a truly epic series -- this story itself spans 12 years and I imagine that the next three books will cover even more time. From the blurb, you’d imagine it was all about Cerulia learning to fight for her kingdom, however it really isn’t at all yet. A Queen in Hiding focuses mainly on Cerulia's mother Cressa, who is chased from her throne by scheming aristocrats and forced into hiding. She makes the difficult decision to separate herself from her only child and fight for her throne -- she hides Cerulia in rural Weirandale where she will be safe from those trying to find her and rule through her. In this way, the book serves mostly as setup for the bulk of Cerulia's story, but I don’t think it suffers because of this. However, I do think that this series will end up reading like one very long book rather than four individual ones, so bingeing is probably best!
I really enjoyed Queen Cressa’s story as a woman who is viewed as a weak ruler coming into her own. I loved that she was flawed, yet I still wanted to cheer for her throughout the entire book. You really see her grow over the years through her experiences and I absolutely loved her arc. I had a little more trouble connecting with Cerulia because she’s not the most active in this book, which is excusable because she’s a very young child for the majority of A Queen in Hiding. However, I am intrigued by her and am really looking forward to seeing her take a more active role in the next installment of the series.
A Queen in Hiding wasn’t perfect -- I felt that it could have been edited a fair bit and the rapid changes in time and huge cast of POV characters bogged it down -- but damn it was so much fun to read! I can’t remember the last time I had this much fun reading a new fantasy release. I am absolutely going to continue on with the series when the next book comes out in February.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.
A Queen in Hiding is a fantasy debut perfect for anyone tired of waiting for the next installment in their favourite series to release. One of the big marketing points of this book is the fact that one book in the series will come out per month from January through April 2020, making it the perfect bingeable series While I am not a series binger myself, I think that this will be perfect for anyone in need of a quick fantasy fix.
A Queen in Hiding is the beginning of a truly epic series -- this story itself spans 12 years and I imagine that the next three books will cover even more time. From the blurb, you’d imagine it was all about Cerulia learning to fight for her kingdom, however it really isn’t at all yet. A Queen in Hiding focuses mainly on Cerulia's mother Cressa, who is chased from her throne by scheming aristocrats and forced into hiding. She makes the difficult decision to separate herself from her only child and fight for her throne -- she hides Cerulia in rural Weirandale where she will be safe from those trying to find her and rule through her. In this way, the book serves mostly as setup for the bulk of Cerulia's story, but I don’t think it suffers because of this. However, I do think that this series will end up reading like one very long book rather than four individual ones, so bingeing is probably best!
I really enjoyed Queen Cressa’s story as a woman who is viewed as a weak ruler coming into her own. I loved that she was flawed, yet I still wanted to cheer for her throughout the entire book. You really see her grow over the years through her experiences and I absolutely loved her arc. I had a little more trouble connecting with Cerulia because she’s not the most active in this book, which is excusable because she’s a very young child for the majority of A Queen in Hiding. However, I am intrigued by her and am really looking forward to seeing her take a more active role in the next installment of the series.
A Queen in Hiding wasn’t perfect -- I felt that it could have been edited a fair bit and the rapid changes in time and huge cast of POV characters bogged it down -- but damn it was so much fun to read! I can’t remember the last time I had this much fun reading a new fantasy release. I am absolutely going to continue on with the series when the next book comes out in February.
Originally posted to I Should Read That
This is a spoiler-free review for Come Tumbling Down, but may contain spoilers for the other books in the series.
I have a funny relationship with the Wayward Children series -- two of the books are my absolute favourite fantasy books, one I really hated, and another left me feeling very ‘meh’. I was very excited to read Come Tumbling Down, but also very cautious due to my mixed feelings on the series so far. Ultimately, this book was just fine, although I think I have now figured out what works and doesn't work for me with this series.
I think that the main reason I didn't on with Down Among the Sticks and Bones and felt ambivalent toward Come Tumbling Down is the fact that I just don’t get on with the Moors as a setting -- something about it just doesn’t click with me, despite the fact that I should love it. As the settings of these books are such a vital part of the stories,Come Tumbling Down started off on a bad foot for me. However, I also think that the plot and story just didn’t connect with me either. As much as I love Jack and Jill as characters, I feel like they’ve not had justice done to them and their stories -- I feel like there’s a lot of potential there that just isn’t reached for me -- and I'm getting a bit bored of them.
I feel like this is a book that wont be memorable for me, which is such a shame given how deeply I love Every Heart a Doorway and In an Absent Dream. I'd love more fresh faces and stories -- although I desperately want Christopher to get his own book -- as well as new settings in this series. I think this may be why In an Absent Dream appealed to me so much -- Lundy was a side character that got her own, individual tale and unique world and it just worked so well for me. I worry that at this rate, the Wayward Children series is going to get dull if we keep seeing the same people over and over again!
This is a short review, but I honestly just don’t have many thoughts on this book! It was very ‘meh’ for me and I hope McGuire manages to breathe new life into the series with the next book.
This is a spoiler-free review for Come Tumbling Down, but may contain spoilers for the other books in the series.
I have a funny relationship with the Wayward Children series -- two of the books are my absolute favourite fantasy books, one I really hated, and another left me feeling very ‘meh’. I was very excited to read Come Tumbling Down, but also very cautious due to my mixed feelings on the series so far. Ultimately, this book was just fine, although I think I have now figured out what works and doesn't work for me with this series.
I think that the main reason I didn't on with Down Among the Sticks and Bones and felt ambivalent toward Come Tumbling Down is the fact that I just don’t get on with the Moors as a setting -- something about it just doesn’t click with me, despite the fact that I should love it. As the settings of these books are such a vital part of the stories,Come Tumbling Down started off on a bad foot for me. However, I also think that the plot and story just didn’t connect with me either. As much as I love Jack and Jill as characters, I feel like they’ve not had justice done to them and their stories -- I feel like there’s a lot of potential there that just isn’t reached for me -- and I'm getting a bit bored of them.
I feel like this is a book that wont be memorable for me, which is such a shame given how deeply I love Every Heart a Doorway and In an Absent Dream. I'd love more fresh faces and stories -- although I desperately want Christopher to get his own book -- as well as new settings in this series. I think this may be why In an Absent Dream appealed to me so much -- Lundy was a side character that got her own, individual tale and unique world and it just worked so well for me. I worry that at this rate, the Wayward Children series is going to get dull if we keep seeing the same people over and over again!
This is a short review, but I honestly just don’t have many thoughts on this book! It was very ‘meh’ for me and I hope McGuire manages to breathe new life into the series with the next book.
I picked this up because of the incredible trailer for The Green Knight! I knew I wanted to get my head around the story before I saw the film, so I dove into the source material. I enjoyed it and really love Tolkien's translation.
I won't lie, I skimmed Pearl and Sir Orfeo because poetry isn't my thing. Oops!
I won't lie, I skimmed Pearl and Sir Orfeo because poetry isn't my thing. Oops!
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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.
I read and really enjoyed Lucy's first novel, The Hunting Party, and was really excited to read more thrillers from her. There's something about her 'posh, awful people doing awful things and having awful things happen to them' plots that I absolutely love -- they're so deliciously dark and compulsively readable.
In many ways, The Guest List feels very much like The Hunting Party. You have a group of posh people coming together for an event, more secrets than you can shake a stick at, and a murder. And just like The Hunting Party, we don't know who is murdered or who the culprit is until the very end. I really liked this format so I was pleased to see it used again so effectively.
There's a wide cast of characters with multiple points of view. Between the wedding planner, the plus one, the best man, the bridesmaid, and the bride, the book felt incredibly well balanced in terms of the shifting POV, which is no easy feat. I really enjoyed the wide cast of characters -- Foley has a real talent for creating interesting and well fleshed out characters that have interesting motivations.
The only real downside of this book is the ending. While I found it satisfying, there was just so much coincidence! It all became a little unbelievable toward the end. To me, the book unraveled a little in the last 10-15%, which is just a shame because thrillers really have to stick the landing. However, this is obviously down to personal preference so I wouldn't let this deter you from picking up the book yourself.
The Guest List is another fun and compulsively readable thriller from Lucy Foley, perfect reading for a cold, winter evening.
CW: cutting, suicide and attempted suicide
3.5 out of 5 stars
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is a spoiler-free review.
I read and really enjoyed Lucy's first novel, The Hunting Party, and was really excited to read more thrillers from her. There's something about her 'posh, awful people doing awful things and having awful things happen to them' plots that I absolutely love -- they're so deliciously dark and compulsively readable.
In many ways, The Guest List feels very much like The Hunting Party. You have a group of posh people coming together for an event, more secrets than you can shake a stick at, and a murder. And just like The Hunting Party, we don't know who is murdered or who the culprit is until the very end. I really liked this format so I was pleased to see it used again so effectively.
There's a wide cast of characters with multiple points of view. Between the wedding planner, the plus one, the best man, the bridesmaid, and the bride, the book felt incredibly well balanced in terms of the shifting POV, which is no easy feat. I really enjoyed the wide cast of characters -- Foley has a real talent for creating interesting and well fleshed out characters that have interesting motivations.
The only real downside of this book is the ending. While I found it satisfying, there was just so much coincidence! It all became a little unbelievable toward the end. To me, the book unraveled a little in the last 10-15%, which is just a shame because thrillers really have to stick the landing. However, this is obviously down to personal preference so I wouldn't let this deter you from picking up the book yourself.
The Guest List is another fun and compulsively readable thriller from Lucy Foley, perfect reading for a cold, winter evening.
CW: cutting, suicide and attempted suicide
3.5 out of 5 stars
Originally posted to I Should Read This
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is a spoiler-free review.
You know those books that sound like they’re written just for you? That was The Library of the Unwritten for me -- a story for book lovers that’s set in Hell’s library and featuring a snarky and slightly uptight librarian? Count me in. I ended up listening to the audiobook and ended up really enjoying it -- it is equal parts madcap, heartfelt, and joyful.
There has been such a good run of books for book lovers lately, and The Library of the Unwritten is absolutely one of them. However, The this book has an incredibly fun twist -- it is a bookish battle between exhausted and annoyed agents of Heaven and Hell. Hackwith does an amazing job of not only featuring familiar Christian figures and imagery, but also pulling in other mythologies and beliefs, such as Valhalla, and using them to explore faith, righteousness, and self-damnation. As silly as this book could be, it also has moments of deep introspection and emotion, and I adored it for that reason.
I absolutely loved the characters in The Library of the Unwritten. Claire, the Head Librarian, is just perfection and exactly the kind of character I love to read about. She’s snarky and a bit uptight, but is so clever, secretly compassionate, and has so much soul and depth -- she’s such an amazing and wonderfully written character. I also adored Brevity, Claire’s assistant and polar opposite, and the two of them play so well off of each other. The chemistry between them, as well as others they meet along the way, was just wonderful.
I couldn't recommend this book more highly, especially for fans of Good Omens and The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep. Quirky, heartfelt, and incredibly funny, The Library of the Unwritten is the perfect book to settle into with a cup of tea on a quiet evening.
CW: Suicide
4.5 out of 5 stars
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is a spoiler-free review.
You know those books that sound like they’re written just for you? That was The Library of the Unwritten for me -- a story for book lovers that’s set in Hell’s library and featuring a snarky and slightly uptight librarian? Count me in. I ended up listening to the audiobook and ended up really enjoying it -- it is equal parts madcap, heartfelt, and joyful.
There has been such a good run of books for book lovers lately, and The Library of the Unwritten is absolutely one of them. However, The this book has an incredibly fun twist -- it is a bookish battle between exhausted and annoyed agents of Heaven and Hell. Hackwith does an amazing job of not only featuring familiar Christian figures and imagery, but also pulling in other mythologies and beliefs, such as Valhalla, and using them to explore faith, righteousness, and self-damnation. As silly as this book could be, it also has moments of deep introspection and emotion, and I adored it for that reason.
I absolutely loved the characters in The Library of the Unwritten. Claire, the Head Librarian, is just perfection and exactly the kind of character I love to read about. She’s snarky and a bit uptight, but is so clever, secretly compassionate, and has so much soul and depth -- she’s such an amazing and wonderfully written character. I also adored Brevity, Claire’s assistant and polar opposite, and the two of them play so well off of each other. The chemistry between them, as well as others they meet along the way, was just wonderful.
I couldn't recommend this book more highly, especially for fans of Good Omens and The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep. Quirky, heartfelt, and incredibly funny, The Library of the Unwritten is the perfect book to settle into with a cup of tea on a quiet evening.
CW: Suicide
4.5 out of 5 stars