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maxines_obsessions's Reviews (701)
What a bloody wild ride. Sci-fi, thriller, mystery, dystopian and horror all rolled into one, keeping you on the edge of your seat and holding your breath throughout.
Itѓ??s 2028 and our world is suffering a climate crisis, there are landslides, dangerous rainfall and the Artic ice will be all gone within a couple of years. Possibly even more terrifying is the new form of dementia striking randomly around the globe. Young or old, Losianѓ??s doesnѓ??t care. It takes their memory, it changes their personality and in the end it takes them.
After losing her husband to the disease Dr Gillian Ryan throws herself into finding a cure and then when her daughter is diagnosed she goes to extreme lengths to help her. Including agreeing to help NASA on their satellite in exchange for more funding. Things turn sour with secrets being kept by everyone involved and it quickly becomes a simple fight for survival.
Hartѓ??s vision for our future is bleak and incredibly realistic. Climate change is choking the planet and life on Earth is not going to be viable for much longer. This is the stuff of MY nightmares guys. Iѓ??m convinced that what Hart has put forward in this book is stuff that will be happening sooner rather than later and thatѓ??s what makes it so scary. So much of the climate crisis in Obscura is just an exaggeration of whatѓ??s already happening. I thought the way Hart used realistic climate issues upped the tension from the very start. It is the same as the way he took dementia, something which affects a large number of people, and made it even worse.
A substantial part of Obscura is an old fashioned ѓ??who done it?ѓ?ќ tale. We meet a large variety of characters and while weaving all of their tales together Hart manages to keep you guessing. I was accusing everyone throughout this book of one thing or another. As the book progressed the tension rose and I couldnѓ??t put the book down; I had to know how the story played out, how each of the characters fit into the puzzle.
The characters themselves were well developed. Occasionally a character would behave in a way that seemed to only happen to try and trick the reader, which is fine it just felt clumsy. Hart was able to make me emotionally invested in the characters, especially Gillian and her daughter. When Gillian was on high alert and hallucinating, I was turning the light on because I didnѓ??t need shadows in my room, I was creeped out enough. When Gillian was watching her daughter struggle, my heart was breaking with hers.
It was a well rounded book. I liked the pacing, it was a fast read. There were no wasted words bogging you down, no info dumping. The science in the book was fascinating. I have no idea if itѓ??s based on anything or completely made up from scratch, but oh the possibilities. Also it gets an extra ѓ??YESѓ?ќ because it didnѓ??t leave me confused. Iѓ??m really enjoying picking up extra Sci-Fiѓ??s this year. I mentioned above it was part thriller and it is, which is why Iѓ??m finishing my review here. I would hate to spoil anything and take away the fun of experiencing it for yourselves.
One last thing, Iѓ??d be remiss not to mention the dedication at the front of this book;
ѓ??To all those who have lost their pasts ѓ?? may we remember for you.ѓ?ќ
It is heartbreaking and beautiful.
I received a copy via NetGalley, this has not affected my review.
Itѓ??s 2028 and our world is suffering a climate crisis, there are landslides, dangerous rainfall and the Artic ice will be all gone within a couple of years. Possibly even more terrifying is the new form of dementia striking randomly around the globe. Young or old, Losianѓ??s doesnѓ??t care. It takes their memory, it changes their personality and in the end it takes them.
After losing her husband to the disease Dr Gillian Ryan throws herself into finding a cure and then when her daughter is diagnosed she goes to extreme lengths to help her. Including agreeing to help NASA on their satellite in exchange for more funding. Things turn sour with secrets being kept by everyone involved and it quickly becomes a simple fight for survival.
Hartѓ??s vision for our future is bleak and incredibly realistic. Climate change is choking the planet and life on Earth is not going to be viable for much longer. This is the stuff of MY nightmares guys. Iѓ??m convinced that what Hart has put forward in this book is stuff that will be happening sooner rather than later and thatѓ??s what makes it so scary. So much of the climate crisis in Obscura is just an exaggeration of whatѓ??s already happening. I thought the way Hart used realistic climate issues upped the tension from the very start. It is the same as the way he took dementia, something which affects a large number of people, and made it even worse.
A substantial part of Obscura is an old fashioned ѓ??who done it?ѓ?ќ tale. We meet a large variety of characters and while weaving all of their tales together Hart manages to keep you guessing. I was accusing everyone throughout this book of one thing or another. As the book progressed the tension rose and I couldnѓ??t put the book down; I had to know how the story played out, how each of the characters fit into the puzzle.
The characters themselves were well developed. Occasionally a character would behave in a way that seemed to only happen to try and trick the reader, which is fine it just felt clumsy. Hart was able to make me emotionally invested in the characters, especially Gillian and her daughter. When Gillian was on high alert and hallucinating, I was turning the light on because I didnѓ??t need shadows in my room, I was creeped out enough. When Gillian was watching her daughter struggle, my heart was breaking with hers.
It was a well rounded book. I liked the pacing, it was a fast read. There were no wasted words bogging you down, no info dumping. The science in the book was fascinating. I have no idea if itѓ??s based on anything or completely made up from scratch, but oh the possibilities. Also it gets an extra ѓ??YESѓ?ќ because it didnѓ??t leave me confused. Iѓ??m really enjoying picking up extra Sci-Fiѓ??s this year. I mentioned above it was part thriller and it is, which is why Iѓ??m finishing my review here. I would hate to spoil anything and take away the fun of experiencing it for yourselves.
One last thing, Iѓ??d be remiss not to mention the dedication at the front of this book;
ѓ??To all those who have lost their pasts ѓ?? may we remember for you.ѓ?ќ
It is heartbreaking and beautiful.
I received a copy via NetGalley, this has not affected my review.
It's 1986, Nick has just been diagnosed with cancer, someone is following him, the local psycho wants to get friendly with a knife, and his newest friend Mia is in trouble and he has to find a way to help her. So typical stuff for a 15yr old.
"We were a tribe who had always felt as if we were locked into a box that we couldn't see. And when D&D came along, suddenly we saw both the box and the key."
Lets get the obvious out of the way. Mark Lawrence is fucking brilliant. He has stepped away from fantasy and straight into sci-fi so smoothly I wonder if their is anything he can't do. Science has definitely played a heavy role in his world building in his previous series, but here it is at the forefront.
His ability to write characters that you truly care about is phenomenal. Whether it be my favourite psychopath (team Jorg for life), or a young girl, discarded by those who were meant to love her, or a group of nerdy boys who like to play Dungeons and Dragons on the weekend, Lawrence makes you care for them, laugh with them and want to fight with them. Shit he can even make you scared of them. His characters have so much depth, there is always more to find out, they are so real. His characters are memorable. You might forget bits and pieces of the story after a while but you will never forget the characters and how they made you feel.
In One Word Kill, Lawrence uses this enormous talent to make you love the 80's and Dungeons and Dragons just as much as it seems he did. While we have a kick ass story happening, this whole book felt like an ode to the 80's. Whether it be the pure friendships, the way Dungeons and Dragons brought this group of kids from very different backgrounds together or the old movies and music. It seemed like such a fun, innocent time. The whole book has a sweet, pure, nostalgic feeling about it, and it's thrown up against a plot which is anything but. The plot has a dark feel, with the threat of death and violence constantly in the air.
I'm not a big fan of books with time travel in them, most authors can't even get close to making it sound plausible, and I end up confused and frustrated. Not Mark Lawrence, the man is a genius for sure, because I could mostly follow the logic, I didn't understand the science speak but I never felt dumb. I was reading all this intricate information going "yep, this could be it".
It's not an overly long book, but it's a book that you take you're time with, enjoying the intricate, well written story that has been produced. For some - parts might be like a trip down memory lane, for me it was a wishing I could have experienced that type of friendship and connection with such a variety of people from a younger age. Finding people that share your passion, who you can truly geek out with. There is so much to the story, but the friendship and passion the group shared was my highlight.
"We were a tribe who had always felt as if we were locked into a box that we couldn't see. And when D&D came along, suddenly we saw both the box and the key."
Lets get the obvious out of the way. Mark Lawrence is fucking brilliant. He has stepped away from fantasy and straight into sci-fi so smoothly I wonder if their is anything he can't do. Science has definitely played a heavy role in his world building in his previous series, but here it is at the forefront.
His ability to write characters that you truly care about is phenomenal. Whether it be my favourite psychopath (team Jorg for life), or a young girl, discarded by those who were meant to love her, or a group of nerdy boys who like to play Dungeons and Dragons on the weekend, Lawrence makes you care for them, laugh with them and want to fight with them. Shit he can even make you scared of them. His characters have so much depth, there is always more to find out, they are so real. His characters are memorable. You might forget bits and pieces of the story after a while but you will never forget the characters and how they made you feel.
In One Word Kill, Lawrence uses this enormous talent to make you love the 80's and Dungeons and Dragons just as much as it seems he did. While we have a kick ass story happening, this whole book felt like an ode to the 80's. Whether it be the pure friendships, the way Dungeons and Dragons brought this group of kids from very different backgrounds together or the old movies and music. It seemed like such a fun, innocent time. The whole book has a sweet, pure, nostalgic feeling about it, and it's thrown up against a plot which is anything but. The plot has a dark feel, with the threat of death and violence constantly in the air.
I'm not a big fan of books with time travel in them, most authors can't even get close to making it sound plausible, and I end up confused and frustrated. Not Mark Lawrence, the man is a genius for sure, because I could mostly follow the logic, I didn't understand the science speak but I never felt dumb. I was reading all this intricate information going "yep, this could be it".
It's not an overly long book, but it's a book that you take you're time with, enjoying the intricate, well written story that has been produced. For some - parts might be like a trip down memory lane, for me it was a wishing I could have experienced that type of friendship and connection with such a variety of people from a younger age. Finding people that share your passion, who you can truly geek out with. There is so much to the story, but the friendship and passion the group shared was my highlight.
You couldnѓ??t have asked for a better title for this book. Task arrives on the shores of Hartlund tired. He is sick of war, the fighting and the skinbags that repeat the same cycle over and over again. Task is a weapon, he was built for war, he will do as he is ordered, but he doesnѓ??t like it. He yearns for the day the monotony will end. He enjoys the rain as it slowly erodes his rocks.
And then along comes the skinny skinbag Lesky, she is curious, fearless and spunky. Her mum told her that you only need to have five things in common with someone to become best friends. After discovering Task is from far away like her, they are one step closer to sealing the deal as best friends.
With a spoilt General ordering Task around, a Baroness pulling strings and a war that is all but lost, Task has his work cut out for him.
ѓ??Coin. It nipped at the heels of power and religion in the ranking of why wars are fought. How many had those three spawned across the millennia?ѓ??
The world that Galley has built is bleak. While the people in Hartlund are blessed with good weather and fertile ground the rest of the world is turning into a desert. The lack of resources is going to cause a world war which would be a devastating blow for the people of Hartlund who have been in a civil war for the last nine years. Their war torn country isnѓ??t being farmed, people are being forced into the army and cities are being destroyed. Those in power donѓ??t notice the hungry, they donѓ??t care about who they step on, they will do whatever has to be done to win the war and keep themselves in power.
The shining beacon amongst this bleakness is the people, those who have been torn away from their homes, who think fighting this war is the best and only option for them. The people who those in power ignore. While Task is treated like a war machine, these people treat him with kindness, they show him that not everyone is like the general. Itѓ??s for those people that Task fights.
Aah Task, what a conundrum he is. Built for war, but somehow he is defected. He thinks for himself, he asks questions and he feels. While all the other golem follow orders without thinking, Task can see the bigger picture. He does what the master bond forces him to do, but he doesnѓ??t like it. He has numbed himself to it all, but once Lesky gets under his ѓ??skinѓ?ќ he finally realises that he needs to do more. He is a wonderful character. Having been around for 400 years has given him a lot of time to study human nature, the way power and greed affect people. He has more self awareness than most people. He is a character that you feel for, that you will cheer for and who you will cry for.
While the world is bleak and we are bearing witness to a terrible war we have hope, Task hopes he can finish it and make the world a better place for Lesky.
ѓ??People donѓ??t like the reflection of what I am to them. I may be different, all stone and dust instead of skin and blood. But they still see themselves. Copied. Faked in stone. They see their Architectѓ??s work in something that isnѓ??t flesh, and they canѓ??t help but be offended by it, scared by it. Fear breeds hate.ѓ??
The Heart of Stone is fast paced. It is full of action, political intrigue, twists and turns and at itѓ??s heart it is about friendship and hope. Itѓ??s a wonderful fantasy story that is well worth a look. In fact I recommend it to all. I have read this story twice and I was on the edge of my seat cheering and reading as fast as I could to find out what would happen next, just as much the second time. But because Galleyѓ??s writing is so beautiful I would often go back to reread paragraphs and enjoy them. He has a way with words, he pulls you into his story and doesnѓ??t let you go, even after you close the final page, you will be thinking about Task and Lesky and how a Golem and a little skinbag could go about changing the course of the entire world.
And then along comes the skinny skinbag Lesky, she is curious, fearless and spunky. Her mum told her that you only need to have five things in common with someone to become best friends. After discovering Task is from far away like her, they are one step closer to sealing the deal as best friends.
With a spoilt General ordering Task around, a Baroness pulling strings and a war that is all but lost, Task has his work cut out for him.
ѓ??Coin. It nipped at the heels of power and religion in the ranking of why wars are fought. How many had those three spawned across the millennia?ѓ??
The world that Galley has built is bleak. While the people in Hartlund are blessed with good weather and fertile ground the rest of the world is turning into a desert. The lack of resources is going to cause a world war which would be a devastating blow for the people of Hartlund who have been in a civil war for the last nine years. Their war torn country isnѓ??t being farmed, people are being forced into the army and cities are being destroyed. Those in power donѓ??t notice the hungry, they donѓ??t care about who they step on, they will do whatever has to be done to win the war and keep themselves in power.
The shining beacon amongst this bleakness is the people, those who have been torn away from their homes, who think fighting this war is the best and only option for them. The people who those in power ignore. While Task is treated like a war machine, these people treat him with kindness, they show him that not everyone is like the general. Itѓ??s for those people that Task fights.
Aah Task, what a conundrum he is. Built for war, but somehow he is defected. He thinks for himself, he asks questions and he feels. While all the other golem follow orders without thinking, Task can see the bigger picture. He does what the master bond forces him to do, but he doesnѓ??t like it. He has numbed himself to it all, but once Lesky gets under his ѓ??skinѓ?ќ he finally realises that he needs to do more. He is a wonderful character. Having been around for 400 years has given him a lot of time to study human nature, the way power and greed affect people. He has more self awareness than most people. He is a character that you feel for, that you will cheer for and who you will cry for.
While the world is bleak and we are bearing witness to a terrible war we have hope, Task hopes he can finish it and make the world a better place for Lesky.
ѓ??People donѓ??t like the reflection of what I am to them. I may be different, all stone and dust instead of skin and blood. But they still see themselves. Copied. Faked in stone. They see their Architectѓ??s work in something that isnѓ??t flesh, and they canѓ??t help but be offended by it, scared by it. Fear breeds hate.ѓ??
The Heart of Stone is fast paced. It is full of action, political intrigue, twists and turns and at itѓ??s heart it is about friendship and hope. Itѓ??s a wonderful fantasy story that is well worth a look. In fact I recommend it to all. I have read this story twice and I was on the edge of my seat cheering and reading as fast as I could to find out what would happen next, just as much the second time. But because Galleyѓ??s writing is so beautiful I would often go back to reread paragraphs and enjoy them. He has a way with words, he pulls you into his story and doesnѓ??t let you go, even after you close the final page, you will be thinking about Task and Lesky and how a Golem and a little skinbag could go about changing the course of the entire world.
I always forget that I enjoy historical fiction, its not a genre I automatically gravitate towards. But when I saw The Absinthe Earl pop up on NetGally, the cover grabbed my attention and then the synopsis sucked me right in; A historical fantasy, set in Ireland in the 1800's, full of mythology, faeries and romance. Yes please.
Miss Ada Quicksilver is in Ireland on a research trip investigating the disappearance of the fae and the links between absinthe and visions of them. She is of the belief that absinthe can help people see the magical creatures. While visiting bars for her research, she meets Lord Meath, a friendly, proper gentleman who happens to be a little mad. He sees creatures and if he doesn't drink absinthe before bed he nightwalks. Meath is the cousin of the Queen and at her order is on his way to visit a faerie mound that has recently been discovered, on a whim he invites Miss Quicksilver, who jumps at the chance to further her research.
'There's an old Irish tale of a white trout that, when caught, transforms into a beautiful woman. No trout was ever netted so prettily as Miss Quicksilver. Fortunately for her, the fisherman had no intention of devouring her.'
I loved the mythology in this book. I loved that it was set in Ireland and I loved how time appropriate the writing was. Everyone was so proper, the manners were exquisite and the outfits seemed incredibly uncomfortable but wonderful.
Miss Quicksilver is an independent lady who after the death of her parents has been on her own. She is intelligent, quick thinking, brave and capable. She takes things in her stride, which is lucky as things quickly go pear shaped for her. Within the first day of travelling with Lord Meath she discovers that the rumours of his madness are not all rumours. He does nightwalk. In fact he is very interested in her when he it's occuring. She soon comes to understand that it is in fact Diarmuid, a warrior from history, who is inhabiting Lord Meath, he thinks the Miss Quicksilver is his long lost love. And Miss Quicksilver begins to think he might be right. Lord Meath is horrified to realise that his sleeping self is obsessed with her and as his ancestor makes his presence known he battles to keep control and maintain a sense of propriety.
Meath and Miss Q are both great characters. Watching them get to know each other was wonderful. They are put in some hard situations, but they continued to communicate throughout the whole tale. They respected each other. Meath had moments of behaving like an egghead, but Miss Q didn't put up with his nonsense. She stood her ground. She didn't want to be put away and protected she wanted to be equal and she refused to accept anything less. When Meath doubted her, she showed him just how silly he was to do so. With a war for Ireland looming over them and the time period, I get why Meath behaved the way he did, and I love Miss Q even more for stepping away from everyone else's expectations.
The introduction of all the Fae and mythological creatures in the book could definitely be a touch overwhelming but luckily there is a glossary of Irish names and terms at the front of the book so that you could go back if needed to figure out who every one is and where they fit in the grand scheme of things. I had heard of The Morrigan before of course and the Formorians but that was it, so I used the glossary a couple of times, but in the end it is all explained well.
As you can probably tell I loved the romance between Miss Q and Lord Meath, it was a slow burn and based on respect. And while it was a massive part of the story, the rest of the plot didn't suffer for it. In fact it was a fascinating story and very hard to put down. I finished the book in two nights, which for me is a pretty good effort. There was plenty of action, it was funny and the side characters were great. There were pirates, redcaps, a water horse, a bog king and banshees all intertwining with the Fae.
It was a story of discovering new love and for the ancestors inhabiting Miss Q's and Lord Sheath's bodies a story of finding each other again. It was a story of fighting for your country and doing what you must to protect those you love.
Also it's the first in a series, HELL YES, I can't wait to revisit these characters.
I received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley. All thoughts are my own.
Miss Ada Quicksilver is in Ireland on a research trip investigating the disappearance of the fae and the links between absinthe and visions of them. She is of the belief that absinthe can help people see the magical creatures. While visiting bars for her research, she meets Lord Meath, a friendly, proper gentleman who happens to be a little mad. He sees creatures and if he doesn't drink absinthe before bed he nightwalks. Meath is the cousin of the Queen and at her order is on his way to visit a faerie mound that has recently been discovered, on a whim he invites Miss Quicksilver, who jumps at the chance to further her research.
'There's an old Irish tale of a white trout that, when caught, transforms into a beautiful woman. No trout was ever netted so prettily as Miss Quicksilver. Fortunately for her, the fisherman had no intention of devouring her.'
I loved the mythology in this book. I loved that it was set in Ireland and I loved how time appropriate the writing was. Everyone was so proper, the manners were exquisite and the outfits seemed incredibly uncomfortable but wonderful.
Miss Quicksilver is an independent lady who after the death of her parents has been on her own. She is intelligent, quick thinking, brave and capable. She takes things in her stride, which is lucky as things quickly go pear shaped for her. Within the first day of travelling with Lord Meath she discovers that the rumours of his madness are not all rumours. He does nightwalk. In fact he is very interested in her when he it's occuring. She soon comes to understand that it is in fact Diarmuid, a warrior from history, who is inhabiting Lord Meath, he thinks the Miss Quicksilver is his long lost love. And Miss Quicksilver begins to think he might be right. Lord Meath is horrified to realise that his sleeping self is obsessed with her and as his ancestor makes his presence known he battles to keep control and maintain a sense of propriety.
Meath and Miss Q are both great characters. Watching them get to know each other was wonderful. They are put in some hard situations, but they continued to communicate throughout the whole tale. They respected each other. Meath had moments of behaving like an egghead, but Miss Q didn't put up with his nonsense. She stood her ground. She didn't want to be put away and protected she wanted to be equal and she refused to accept anything less. When Meath doubted her, she showed him just how silly he was to do so. With a war for Ireland looming over them and the time period, I get why Meath behaved the way he did, and I love Miss Q even more for stepping away from everyone else's expectations.
The introduction of all the Fae and mythological creatures in the book could definitely be a touch overwhelming but luckily there is a glossary of Irish names and terms at the front of the book so that you could go back if needed to figure out who every one is and where they fit in the grand scheme of things. I had heard of The Morrigan before of course and the Formorians but that was it, so I used the glossary a couple of times, but in the end it is all explained well.
As you can probably tell I loved the romance between Miss Q and Lord Meath, it was a slow burn and based on respect. And while it was a massive part of the story, the rest of the plot didn't suffer for it. In fact it was a fascinating story and very hard to put down. I finished the book in two nights, which for me is a pretty good effort. There was plenty of action, it was funny and the side characters were great. There were pirates, redcaps, a water horse, a bog king and banshees all intertwining with the Fae.
It was a story of discovering new love and for the ancestors inhabiting Miss Q's and Lord Sheath's bodies a story of finding each other again. It was a story of fighting for your country and doing what you must to protect those you love.
Also it's the first in a series, HELL YES, I can't wait to revisit these characters.
I received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley. All thoughts are my own.
In Scales of Empire, humanity has pretty much destroyed the Earths ecosystem and in a last ditch effort to save ourselves we are heading for the stars. A massive undertaking with each nation sending their own people up, and each planet needing to be made hospitable. It's risky, it will take many years and humanity doesn't have a lot of time left.
Corporal Jian Choumaliis has secured herself a position as security officer on one of Earths generation ships. She is a dedicated soldier, ready to leave her mother, lovers and the child they are expecting to help save humanity. But before they can even get off the ground they make first contact with a being from another planet. A dragon princess no less, who after becoming smitten with Jian decides to help humans reach out into the stars.
' "I hope I didn't leave it too long with your poor colonists. It's very bad manners for the more advanced civilisations to contact the less advanced first, but they were going to die, and I had no choice."
"Bad manners?" Commander Alto said, amused.
"It hurts your self-esteem as a species. You've struggled for so many years to attain many of your society's achievements, and then we show up and can do them fifty times better with no effort at all. Makes everything you've been working for seem a waste of time." '
Scales of Empire has a few things going for it. It's diverse and inclusive. That's probably the part I enjoyed most. The king is transitioning, our mc is ethnically diverse as well as bi, the dragons are pansexual and gender fluid, and Richard's body was heavily damaged saving the kings life so he has prosthetic limbs and more.
Unfortunately for me the story lacked what I would call heart. It felt shallow and while I finished the book I wouldn't be picking up the next one. I didn't think the synopsis was a true representation of the actual plot. I expected some excitement, but whenever the opportunity arose the story kept moving slowly and fell flat. The humour throughout the story wasn't what I would expect from soldiers or an advanced species. I didn't find most of the attempts funny, they seemed tacky. It took away from the story. I felt like it cheapened it. I spent a large portion of the book wondering if it was a satire.
So while there were aspects of the characters traits I enjoyed, overall everything else fell short.
Corporal Jian Choumaliis has secured herself a position as security officer on one of Earths generation ships. She is a dedicated soldier, ready to leave her mother, lovers and the child they are expecting to help save humanity. But before they can even get off the ground they make first contact with a being from another planet. A dragon princess no less, who after becoming smitten with Jian decides to help humans reach out into the stars.
' "I hope I didn't leave it too long with your poor colonists. It's very bad manners for the more advanced civilisations to contact the less advanced first, but they were going to die, and I had no choice."
"Bad manners?" Commander Alto said, amused.
"It hurts your self-esteem as a species. You've struggled for so many years to attain many of your society's achievements, and then we show up and can do them fifty times better with no effort at all. Makes everything you've been working for seem a waste of time." '
Scales of Empire has a few things going for it. It's diverse and inclusive. That's probably the part I enjoyed most. The king is transitioning, our mc is ethnically diverse as well as bi, the dragons are pansexual and gender fluid, and Richard's body was heavily damaged saving the kings life so he has prosthetic limbs and more.
Unfortunately for me the story lacked what I would call heart. It felt shallow and while I finished the book I wouldn't be picking up the next one. I didn't think the synopsis was a true representation of the actual plot. I expected some excitement, but whenever the opportunity arose the story kept moving slowly and fell flat. The humour throughout the story wasn't what I would expect from soldiers or an advanced species. I didn't find most of the attempts funny, they seemed tacky. It took away from the story. I felt like it cheapened it. I spent a large portion of the book wondering if it was a satire.
So while there were aspects of the characters traits I enjoyed, overall everything else fell short.