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Originally posted to I Should Read That
I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler free for The Trouble with Peace, but will contain spoilers for A Little Hatred.
Welcome to my stop on the Trouble with Peace blog tour! As you all may be aware, Joe Abercrombie is one of my absolute favourite authors and a new book from him is always an event in my reading year. Given my absolute love of A Little Hatred, the first book in his new First Law series, I had sky-high expectations for its sequel — and they were unsurprisingly met.
Despite the apparent end to the war and brutality that takes place in the previous book, there’s no rest for Adua in Trouble with Peace. Due to this simmering unrest and very shaky peace, this book is absolutely filled with political intrigue, backstabbing, and scheming behind closed doors. This is the kind of fantasy writing that I absolutely love, and Trouble with Peace is one of the finest examples of political fantasy out there. If you’re anything like me, you’ll absolutely delight in each new plot twist and turn as schemes are uncovered.
One of the greatest strengths of Abercrombie’s writing is his cast of characters and their interactions. His dialogue is, as always, razor-sharp and often so surprisingly funny, making a grim story so incredibly compelling and making you root for people you’d hate under any other circumstance. I continue to be impressed with the way he rips up the rulebook on writing fantasy characters and fills his stories with people who defy your expectations, go against archetypes, and feel so incredibly realistic.
Savine rose in the ranks as one of my all-time favourite fantasy characters with her introduction in A Little Hatred, and she continues to be such a delightfully complex, ambitious, and layered woman — I cannot express to you how much I love her. If possible, I enjoyed her story even more in Trouble with Peace as she became a more frequent POV character and her strong and shiny veneer crumbles as PTSD and shame consume her as the book begins. I also loved the continuation of Rikke’s plotline in the North, her ties to some of the rare magic in the world, and the continuation of her character arc — she is far different from the young woman at the beginning of the first book. I always have less interest in the male characters, but Leo dan Brock really grew on me in this story — I found his story line fascinating as a man who is in the position to bring about change, but honestly just isn’t bright or strong enough to manage it himself. The way he is pushed and pulled by various forces throughout the book was fascinating, and often so infuriating.
If you loved A Little Hatred, I guarantee you’ll also love Trouble with Peace. Brutal, grim, and often so very compelling, Trouble with Peace is a totally unputdownable grimdark story for your fall TBR.
I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler free for The Trouble with Peace, but will contain spoilers for A Little Hatred.
Welcome to my stop on the Trouble with Peace blog tour! As you all may be aware, Joe Abercrombie is one of my absolute favourite authors and a new book from him is always an event in my reading year. Given my absolute love of A Little Hatred, the first book in his new First Law series, I had sky-high expectations for its sequel — and they were unsurprisingly met.
Despite the apparent end to the war and brutality that takes place in the previous book, there’s no rest for Adua in Trouble with Peace. Due to this simmering unrest and very shaky peace, this book is absolutely filled with political intrigue, backstabbing, and scheming behind closed doors. This is the kind of fantasy writing that I absolutely love, and Trouble with Peace is one of the finest examples of political fantasy out there. If you’re anything like me, you’ll absolutely delight in each new plot twist and turn as schemes are uncovered.
One of the greatest strengths of Abercrombie’s writing is his cast of characters and their interactions. His dialogue is, as always, razor-sharp and often so surprisingly funny, making a grim story so incredibly compelling and making you root for people you’d hate under any other circumstance. I continue to be impressed with the way he rips up the rulebook on writing fantasy characters and fills his stories with people who defy your expectations, go against archetypes, and feel so incredibly realistic.
Savine rose in the ranks as one of my all-time favourite fantasy characters with her introduction in A Little Hatred, and she continues to be such a delightfully complex, ambitious, and layered woman — I cannot express to you how much I love her. If possible, I enjoyed her story even more in Trouble with Peace as she became a more frequent POV character and her strong and shiny veneer crumbles as PTSD and shame consume her as the book begins. I also loved the continuation of Rikke’s plotline in the North, her ties to some of the rare magic in the world, and the continuation of her character arc — she is far different from the young woman at the beginning of the first book. I always have less interest in the male characters, but Leo dan Brock really grew on me in this story — I found his story line fascinating as a man who is in the position to bring about change, but honestly just isn’t bright or strong enough to manage it himself. The way he is pushed and pulled by various forces throughout the book was fascinating, and often so infuriating.
If you loved A Little Hatred, I guarantee you’ll also love Trouble with Peace. Brutal, grim, and often so very compelling, Trouble with Peace is a totally unputdownable grimdark story for your fall TBR.
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.
Dangerous Remedy has been on my radar for ages — I love a good historical fantasy and the French Revolution setting caught my eye. I think that for a reader like me, who has become incredibly picky about what I do and do not like in YA over the years, this one didn’t quite hit the mark. However, I think you’ll enjoy this one if you’re a dedicated YA reader and are looking for a fantasy with a different flavour.
A number of elements in this book didn’t click with me, however there were bits that I did enjoy. Dunn does a fantastic job with the world building — Dangerous Remedy is a book that really lets you sink into the setting. You can fully imagine each character winding through the dark streets of Paris, ducking into safe houses or huddling in cafes. I also really loved the opening sequence — who doesn’t love a prison break? A good heist is always going to get my attention. Unfortunately, I just didn’t get on with the story or the fantasy elements — I feel like there was a load of potential there that didn’t quite hit the mark.
Dangerous Remedy is a squad book, therefore the characters are the most important aspect of the book. This is where it fell a little flat for me — I just couldn’t connect with a single character. Camille and Ada are the stars of the show, and while I loved the fact that we got an established f/f relationship, they just felt a little flat. I’m not sure why — they both were great on paper as strong heroines with difficult pasts and good instincts. They just didn’t have that extra spark that makes characters memorable and special. I also found myself getting more and more annoyed with the fact that their priorities needed some serious reconsideration. They’d be in literal life or death situations and they’d be distracted by some argument they had had pages before.
Strangely, I was much more interested in the male characters than these girls. However, they felt more like background characters than actual members of the squad — they had absolutely no chance to shine. We spend so little time getting to know Al — easily the most interesting character in the book and someone who had the potential to be absolutely amazing and layered — and Guil is almost non-existent. I felt this was a real shame — a good balance between characters would have really helped my reading of the book.
Dangerous Remedy was a fun YA summer read, but not one that will stick with me. I will not continue on with the series, however I’d be curious to see what Dunn does next.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.
Dangerous Remedy has been on my radar for ages — I love a good historical fantasy and the French Revolution setting caught my eye. I think that for a reader like me, who has become incredibly picky about what I do and do not like in YA over the years, this one didn’t quite hit the mark. However, I think you’ll enjoy this one if you’re a dedicated YA reader and are looking for a fantasy with a different flavour.
A number of elements in this book didn’t click with me, however there were bits that I did enjoy. Dunn does a fantastic job with the world building — Dangerous Remedy is a book that really lets you sink into the setting. You can fully imagine each character winding through the dark streets of Paris, ducking into safe houses or huddling in cafes. I also really loved the opening sequence — who doesn’t love a prison break? A good heist is always going to get my attention. Unfortunately, I just didn’t get on with the story or the fantasy elements — I feel like there was a load of potential there that didn’t quite hit the mark.
Dangerous Remedy is a squad book, therefore the characters are the most important aspect of the book. This is where it fell a little flat for me — I just couldn’t connect with a single character. Camille and Ada are the stars of the show, and while I loved the fact that we got an established f/f relationship, they just felt a little flat. I’m not sure why — they both were great on paper as strong heroines with difficult pasts and good instincts. They just didn’t have that extra spark that makes characters memorable and special. I also found myself getting more and more annoyed with the fact that their priorities needed some serious reconsideration. They’d be in literal life or death situations and they’d be distracted by some argument they had had pages before.
Strangely, I was much more interested in the male characters than these girls. However, they felt more like background characters than actual members of the squad — they had absolutely no chance to shine. We spend so little time getting to know Al — easily the most interesting character in the book and someone who had the potential to be absolutely amazing and layered — and Guil is almost non-existent. I felt this was a real shame — a good balance between characters would have really helped my reading of the book.
Dangerous Remedy was a fun YA summer read, but not one that will stick with me. I will not continue on with the series, however I’d be curious to see what Dunn does next.
Originally posted to I Should Read That
I had been hearing nothing but rave reviews for The House in the Cerulean Sea when it came out this spring — what better time for a wholesome book than during quarantine? I didn’t get around to reading it until August, but I’m so glad I picked up this lovely book! A cosy read that pairs perfectly with a rainy day, a cup of tea, and a cat in your lap, The House in the Cerulean Sea is sure to warm you heart.
This book takes place in a world much like our own, but it has a bit of a twist. The existence of magical creatures is widely known, and such beings are monitored by the government. This concept hit so hard, especially in the wake of the protests around racism across the globe this summer, as well as the number of people burying their heads in the sand and pretending that societal issues such as racism don’t exist where they live. Klune did a fabulous job of making this important aspect of the world building so neferious and so realistic, that it was actually a little unsettling. You don’t need to read between the lines to see what’s wrong with this world and see how people try their best to not deal with ‘others’.
Despite this quite dark background, The House in the Cerulean Sea has so much charm. From Klune’s light and clever writing style and the playful banter between characters, it’s hard to not fall in love with the characters that drive the story. Linus, our POV character, is someone who grows so much over the course of the story, and it was a delight to see him begin to recognise the issues around him and begin to question the authority that has governed him for so long. He is a quiet and unassuming man who blends into the background, but he cares so deeply for the children he works with and this compassion makes him shine. He morphs from a passive kind of carer to an active one, and his growth reflects the awakening that so many people of privilege have been experiencing.
Much of his growth is in relation to the other characters of the book — how he interacts with them and learns to challenge his preconceived notions of what a magical child is and can be plays a huge role in his development. From Arthur, the man who runs the orphanage and steals Linus’s heart, to the unique children that live within its walls (Chauncey has my heart forever), the chemistry between the characters was so lovely and totally believable.
Overall, I really enjoyed The House in the Cerulean Sea. While it got a little too sickly sweet for my taste in some places, it was such a departure from my usual grim fantasy novels that I couldn’t help but be swept up in the wholesome story. I’d highly recommend this book for readers of any age range who want a comforting and charming tale to counteract the difficult times we life in.
I had been hearing nothing but rave reviews for The House in the Cerulean Sea when it came out this spring — what better time for a wholesome book than during quarantine? I didn’t get around to reading it until August, but I’m so glad I picked up this lovely book! A cosy read that pairs perfectly with a rainy day, a cup of tea, and a cat in your lap, The House in the Cerulean Sea is sure to warm you heart.
This book takes place in a world much like our own, but it has a bit of a twist. The existence of magical creatures is widely known, and such beings are monitored by the government. This concept hit so hard, especially in the wake of the protests around racism across the globe this summer, as well as the number of people burying their heads in the sand and pretending that societal issues such as racism don’t exist where they live. Klune did a fabulous job of making this important aspect of the world building so neferious and so realistic, that it was actually a little unsettling. You don’t need to read between the lines to see what’s wrong with this world and see how people try their best to not deal with ‘others’.
Despite this quite dark background, The House in the Cerulean Sea has so much charm. From Klune’s light and clever writing style and the playful banter between characters, it’s hard to not fall in love with the characters that drive the story. Linus, our POV character, is someone who grows so much over the course of the story, and it was a delight to see him begin to recognise the issues around him and begin to question the authority that has governed him for so long. He is a quiet and unassuming man who blends into the background, but he cares so deeply for the children he works with and this compassion makes him shine. He morphs from a passive kind of carer to an active one, and his growth reflects the awakening that so many people of privilege have been experiencing.
Much of his growth is in relation to the other characters of the book — how he interacts with them and learns to challenge his preconceived notions of what a magical child is and can be plays a huge role in his development. From Arthur, the man who runs the orphanage and steals Linus’s heart, to the unique children that live within its walls (Chauncey has my heart forever), the chemistry between the characters was so lovely and totally believable.
Overall, I really enjoyed The House in the Cerulean Sea. While it got a little too sickly sweet for my taste in some places, it was such a departure from my usual grim fantasy novels that I couldn’t help but be swept up in the wholesome story. I’d highly recommend this book for readers of any age range who want a comforting and charming tale to counteract the difficult times we life in.
Originally posted to I Should Read That
Artificial Condition is my favourite of the series. In this book, we get the expanded world building and much more solid and purposeful plot that I craved the first time I read All Systems Red. Murderbot has an interesting mission and is forced to learn on the fly and because of that, the story is much more self-contained and interesting.
Artificial Condition also introduces us to the absolute best aspect of these books (aside from our lovely main character) — the other bots that Murderbot interacts with. We are graced with my absolute favourite secondary character in the series: ART, also known as Asshole Research Transport. Murderbot’s interactions with ART are just fantastic and hilarious — they’re able to connect and understand each other on a level that isn’t achieved with Murderbot’s human interactions.
This book is an absolute delight, and I can see myself reading it over and over again.
Artificial Condition is my favourite of the series. In this book, we get the expanded world building and much more solid and purposeful plot that I craved the first time I read All Systems Red. Murderbot has an interesting mission and is forced to learn on the fly and because of that, the story is much more self-contained and interesting.
Artificial Condition also introduces us to the absolute best aspect of these books (aside from our lovely main character) — the other bots that Murderbot interacts with. We are graced with my absolute favourite secondary character in the series: ART, also known as Asshole Research Transport. Murderbot’s interactions with ART are just fantastic and hilarious — they’re able to connect and understand each other on a level that isn’t achieved with Murderbot’s human interactions.
This book is an absolute delight, and I can see myself reading it over and over again.
Originally posted to I Should Read That
This was actually a reread for me — I picked up All Systems Red back in 2018 and was not sold on it. I think trying this a second time did me a lot of good, as I had a better idea of what to expect going in. Everyone talks about how funny and relatable Murderbot is, but they don’t often talk about the fact that this is very much a serious, hard sci-fi series. Having my mindset adjusted, I was able to enjoy this book so much more.
This novella contains a huge amount of set-up, to the point that I think it’s best to read them all back-to-back. I can see readers coming out of All Systems Red a little unsatisfied with the world building (which gets stronger as later books add more context and detail) and the secondary characters (what human can stand out next to Murderbot? I mean, come on). However, it does a great job of introducing you to the SecUnit systems and the way of life in the future.
All Systems Red feels a lot like the first part of a longer book, which left me feeling a little unsatisfied. Fortunately, I had the second book on hand to read right away.
This was actually a reread for me — I picked up All Systems Red back in 2018 and was not sold on it. I think trying this a second time did me a lot of good, as I had a better idea of what to expect going in. Everyone talks about how funny and relatable Murderbot is, but they don’t often talk about the fact that this is very much a serious, hard sci-fi series. Having my mindset adjusted, I was able to enjoy this book so much more.
This novella contains a huge amount of set-up, to the point that I think it’s best to read them all back-to-back. I can see readers coming out of All Systems Red a little unsatisfied with the world building (which gets stronger as later books add more context and detail) and the secondary characters (what human can stand out next to Murderbot? I mean, come on). However, it does a great job of introducing you to the SecUnit systems and the way of life in the future.
All Systems Red feels a lot like the first part of a longer book, which left me feeling a little unsatisfied. Fortunately, I had the second book on hand to read right away.
Originally posted to I Should Read That
Rogue Protocol is a close second favourite in the series for very similar reasons — it feels like a self-contained story and has excellent secondary characters. Murderbot dives deeper into the conflicts of the first book and is on a mission to recover data from a dead station. Apparently I just love watching Murderbot go on missions, waffle their way through human interaction, and uncover more of their own pesky human emotions. I found this book to be immensely satisfying and enjoyable!
Like Artificial Condition, Rogue Protocol has a wonderful bot that Murderbot must interact with –a bot who is basically the exact opposite of ART and makes Murderbot exceedingly uncomfortable. Throughout the book, Murderbot learns uncomfortable truths through Miki and their human companions. This is one of the most impactful relationships in the series and I absolutely loved it.
Rogue Protocol is the only Murderbot book to make me cry. Take from that what you will.
Rogue Protocol is a close second favourite in the series for very similar reasons — it feels like a self-contained story and has excellent secondary characters. Murderbot dives deeper into the conflicts of the first book and is on a mission to recover data from a dead station. Apparently I just love watching Murderbot go on missions, waffle their way through human interaction, and uncover more of their own pesky human emotions. I found this book to be immensely satisfying and enjoyable!
Like Artificial Condition, Rogue Protocol has a wonderful bot that Murderbot must interact with –a bot who is basically the exact opposite of ART and makes Murderbot exceedingly uncomfortable. Throughout the book, Murderbot learns uncomfortable truths through Miki and their human companions. This is one of the most impactful relationships in the series and I absolutely loved it.
Rogue Protocol is the only Murderbot book to make me cry. Take from that what you will.
Originally posted to I Should Read That
Sadly, Exit Strategy was my least favourite of the series. Why? I’m not entirely sure! I think what it comes down to is my preference for Murderbot’s solo adventures and the other bot characters — I just don’t care too much for the humans. I didn’t feel like we got to know them well enough in All Systems Red, therefore I just didn’t care much about them by the time two other books had past and they suddenly appear again. I also didn’t feel like the ending was satisfying, especially for what is meant to be the end of a series. I don’t mind an open-ended ending, however this one didn’t feel like any kind of conclusion at all.*
Maybe by the time Exit Strategy came around, some of the shine had worn off a little for me and the charm of the second and third books just wasn’t present. Don’t get me wrong, I liked it, however it is easily the weakest one for me.
*A new novella has been announced, so this isn't the end of the series.
Sadly, Exit Strategy was my least favourite of the series. Why? I’m not entirely sure! I think what it comes down to is my preference for Murderbot’s solo adventures and the other bot characters — I just don’t care too much for the humans. I didn’t feel like we got to know them well enough in All Systems Red, therefore I just didn’t care much about them by the time two other books had past and they suddenly appear again. I also didn’t feel like the ending was satisfying, especially for what is meant to be the end of a series. I don’t mind an open-ended ending, however this one didn’t feel like any kind of conclusion at all.*
Maybe by the time Exit Strategy came around, some of the shine had worn off a little for me and the charm of the second and third books just wasn’t present. Don’t get me wrong, I liked it, however it is easily the weakest one for me.
*A new novella has been announced, so this isn't the end of the series.
Originally posted to I Should Read That
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This novella is an absolute delight! Although I am not familiar with Wuxia as a genre or style, I absolutely adored this short, impactful, and fun book. This book will hit a lot of sweet spots for readers, including the found family trope and wonderfully written LGBTQ+ characters, and it should absolutely be on your radar if you are a fantasy reader!
The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water is more than just a pretty cover. Cho has a wonderful knack for writing sharp dialogue and witty banter, as well as creating complex and lovable characters that have the most wonderful chemistry together. I'd highly recommend this one if you're looking for some novellas to add to your TBR.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This novella is an absolute delight! Although I am not familiar with Wuxia as a genre or style, I absolutely adored this short, impactful, and fun book. This book will hit a lot of sweet spots for readers, including the found family trope and wonderfully written LGBTQ+ characters, and it should absolutely be on your radar if you are a fantasy reader!
The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water is more than just a pretty cover. Cho has a wonderful knack for writing sharp dialogue and witty banter, as well as creating complex and lovable characters that have the most wonderful chemistry together. I'd highly recommend this one if you're looking for some novellas to add to your TBR.
The Bone Witch was an audiobook listen early on in lockdown, and while I enjoyed it I think it will be best to judge this series as a whole rather than on this first book for a few reasons.
This book felt a little generic to me, but showed potential to be a great YA fantasy serioes. It shows both the past and present for Tea -- both her discovering her power as a youth and her exile in the present day. I much preferred the small bits of her present situation more than her past -- I just didn't find young Tea to be a particularly interesting character. She follows the same beats as many YA heroines learning how to control her rare and special magic, and I feel like this kind of story has gotten a little stale for me personally.
However, Tea's mysterious exile and what she's doing absolutely hooked me and is the reason I'd be up for continuing the series. She's obviously been jaded and angered by something that happened in her past, and I think that this storyline will be the make or break the series for me. This is where I see a lot of promise for the series!
This book felt a little generic to me, but showed potential to be a great YA fantasy serioes. It shows both the past and present for Tea -- both her discovering her power as a youth and her exile in the present day. I much preferred the small bits of her present situation more than her past -- I just didn't find young Tea to be a particularly interesting character. She follows the same beats as many YA heroines learning how to control her rare and special magic, and I feel like this kind of story has gotten a little stale for me personally.
However, Tea's mysterious exile and what she's doing absolutely hooked me and is the reason I'd be up for continuing the series. She's obviously been jaded and angered by something that happened in her past, and I think that this storyline will be the make or break the series for me. This is where I see a lot of promise for the series!
A wonderfully creepy and gorgeously illustrated graphic novel! If you're a fan of retellings, I can't recommend this incredibly dark Snow White retelling more! Told from the queen's point of view, it provides a fresh twist on an old tale.