savage_book_review's Reviews (328)

The climax of the 'War of Lost Hearts' series, we pick up about six months after the end of the last book. Tisaanah and Max find themselves separated, both facing their own demons, and war is no longer a threat, but an inevitability. But in this conflict, there are more than two sides to the story...

I'll admit to struggling to get into this one, mainly because I didn't really absorb enough of the previous book to stick in my memory. So there was the immediate issue of trying to remember who some of the secondary characters were and what role they played, and where everyone was and why. It wasn't hard to pick up, but that initial awkwardness did have some affect on my overall enjoyment. And once you have got there, to some extent I felt this book had the same issue as book two, in that I just couldn't quite keep my finger on the pulse of the story. It skips along quite happily, and the narrative is there to enjoy, but it feels like it's missing some depth, or that baited hook that drags you heart and soul into the tale. 

There are certainly moments of great beauty and feeling, mostly those quieter scenes between Max and Tisaanah or other characters, where it's not about the action, war and death. These pauses do so much more for me as a reader, as these are the moments that make me invested in the characters. Conversely, the villains of the piece never really got the time to develop their megalomania and so I didn't quite get the desired satisfaction levels when people receive their comeuppance. Likewise, as much as I like the idea of Aefe as a character, I feel she was woefully underdeveloped and the climax of her story left a lot to be desired.

The overall storyline of this one was also fairly predictable. There are some nice twists and turns along the way, but ultimately it's not hard to figure out the majority of the endgame as you go. It's good because you can see 'the light stop the end of the tunnel' as you read, but equally the scope of this story is one that would have suited a big old plot twist at some stage. I'd say the writing feels like the author had a whole bunch of amazing images and ideas to set down on paper and, while she has managed to paint a good picture and the tale is engaging and enjoyable enough to carry the reader through the series, ultimately something has been lost in translation between the author's mind and the page. I can almost see the vividness that should be there, but there's just not quite enough in the description to get me all the way.

I'm still here for one main reason; Max. My goodness, I love him! Yes, he's got magic powers and a great body (complete with tattoos, although no wings...), but it's the fact that he doesn't quite fit the mould of other fantasy MMCs - somehow he feels more like a real person. He's a bit brooding, but can have a laugh and open up. He talks like a man far older than he actually is, and just wants a quiet life pruning his garden. He's quiet strength and stability, rather than a bold brash hero. And it all just works for me! Now I've finished, I've signed up to the author's newsletter so I can access Max's prequel story, 'Ashen Son', as I want more if this character in my life!

Will I read the books again? Probably not. But I will give the audiobooks of 2 and 3 a go in future!

The health of the Tudor monarchs leaves a lot to be desired. From Henry VIII's stinking leg ulcers to Mary I's phantom pregnancies and Elizabeth's poisonous makeup and terrible dental hygiene, this book purports to examine each ruler's medical history and try to provide some clarity as to just what might have been the cause of the dynasty's downfall. 

To start with, it seems like it's going to give you quite detailed and considered accounts of the possible medical maladies and causes of death. It feels quite focused and informative, sprinkling in enough background and 'general' history to ground you in the period. The sections on Elizabeth of York and Prince Arthur are fairly  interesting, if a little over-stuffed with long quotes from primary or near-contemporary secondary sources. But, Henry VII was forgettable, and when you reach Henry VIII and start wading your way through his six wives, the wheels start to fall off. As is usual, Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn get a fairly in-depth examination, but thereafter the women are only given cursory glances. And by the time you get to the children, it seemed to me that the author had essentially given up on the medical viewpoint and was just providing a brief potted history of the Tudors. Mary I did get a little more than the other two, but it felt half-hearted at best.

The best example I can give is that, when discussing Elizabeth of York and Catherine of Aragon, the author takes the time (more than once), to define the difference between a miscarriage and a stillbirth, and seems to get very frustrated with historians who use the wrong term to describe the various losses. This sets you up with the belief that the author is going to be quite specific in her descriptions and medically minded. But by the time we get to Mary I, she's content to talk about her depression as 'mental instability' and her phantom pregnancies in such a way that actually feels quite dismissive. It may be my personal experiences that are shaping my viewpoint, but it does come across as being written by someone who doesn't equate physical and mental illness. 

I absolutely appreciate that it's impossible to come up with accurate diagnoses 400 years plus after the events, but I wouldn't say there's anything original or even originally insightful in here. The refrain of 'historians say...' followed by a general consensus of the medical issue that affected a particular monarch is littered throughout the text and, the first few times, I was expecting the narrative to follow that thought and examine why they might be right vs why they might be wrong, and what other options there might be. But the majority of the time it boils down to the author going 'yup, what everyone else thinks sounds about right to me!'. 

Speaking of refrains, the sheer volume of repeated phrases, descriptions, quotes etc is bordering on the ridiculous. Yes, Eustace Chapuys is the Imperial Ambassador. I got that the first hundred times you told me! And I'm not just talking a couple of words - there are a few cases where almost whole paragraphs are repeated,  if not word for word then closely enough, and even basic facts, like Anne Boleyn being executed, are inserted each time as if this is new information. Because of this, the book didn't 'read' like a tight, cohesive narrative - it read more like a series of journal articles that have been collated. I suspect if you were to narrow your focus to one ruler, and only read that section, you'd find it a far more insightful read. 

Unfortunately, the narrator didn't help with this. Going back to our Imperial Ambassador (sorry to keep picking on you Eustace!), it felt like every time he was mentioned in the text, the narrator was taking a deep breath and saying to herself 'it's OK, we've practiced this, we know how to pronounce the name!'. So, the pronunciation feels forced and is said with exactly the same tone every time. Likewise, when the quotes from older sources are so long, it very quickly becomes easy to get lost as to what is a quote and what is this author's work. The whole thing just felt stilted. It's not that the narrator droned on or had an awful voice, but there was just something about the pacing that was off for me.

I'm glad I got to this while it was still on the Audible Plus catalogue, as I think I would have begrudged using a credit. There are definitely better considerations of the medical conditions of the Tudors out there, even within 'general' books about the period.

The story of Lady Seymour Worsley sounds like it should be a sub-plot in Bridgerton or Pride and Prejudice, but has the advantage of being fact. She shocks the establishment by abandoning her home for her lover, Captain Bissett. When her cuckolded husband sues the Captain for 'criminal conversation', the trial explodes in the press due to the salacious details and all not being quite as it seems...

I watched the BBC drama based on this story, starring Natalie Dormer, when it aired years ago. So when I saw that the audiobook was included in my Audible subscription (but only for a few more days!), and I saw who the author was, I was intrigued enough to have a listen. Where I recall the drama being very well done, the book is something of a game of two halves. The initial chapters set the scene, detailing Richard Worsley and Seymour's childhoods, family circumstances, marriage etc., along with the instigating event - her disappearance with Captain Bissett. There then follows a detailed account of the trial, witness statements and the revelations of the story behind her absconding. Up to this point, the narrative is captivating and attention-grabbing; it paints a really clear picture of their part in society, the characters involved and the twists and turns of their story.

However, I found it much harder to summon interest in the second half, after the trial has been concluded. It then reverts to something of a dual biography, alternating chapters between Richard and Seymour's lives thereafter. Given that Richard is described at the outset as something of a meticulous bore, as you can imagine his chapters do come across as rather dull. On the other hand, while Seymour continues to live a more interesting life, it appears that much of the detail is lost to time and so there just isn't the depth that you'd perhaps hope for. Overall, this section feels much more meandering and full of side characters and tangential events, and comes across to me as mote padding to increase the word count. I think I could have coped with just Seymour's sections, given that I was expecting the book to be predominantly about her given the title, and there are some interesting tidbits in there, but I do question the logic of following Richard too (apart from where he directly affecting Seymour's life, of course) once the trial is over.

This book does do a really good job at illustrating the mores and expectations of society on women at that time, and the imbalance of power and respect between men and women, and the vastly different reactions to indiscretions experienced by the sexes. Lary Worsley's actions at trial would likely still be considered shocking today, but for very different reasons. And yet it is quite possible that, in today's world, if there had been a good relationship between husband and wife, there may not have been any reason for a divorce or trial at all!

I do think the narrator has a great voice for this sort of subject-matter - her tone, pronunciation and accent would not sound out of place in a Jane Austen adaptation! Indeed, it did remind me somewhat of Julia Sawalha as Lydia Bennett! This definitely added to my enjoyment of listening as it helped me immerse myself more in the world. I don't know if it was deliberately, but it definitely worked! 

I'd say this is definitely worth a read/listen, but only if you're already interested in the period, themes or characters concerned and have some knowledge of one or all.

Troy has been conquered. Achilles has fallen, but his son Pyrrhus is hailed a hero. All the Greek warriors want is to go home. But what about the women whose home is now ashes on the wind? Those who have been enslaved by their conquerors, whose husbands, brothers and sons were slain? An anxious wait is in store...

Predominantly, we are again seeing the world through Briseis' eyes. Now married to Achilles' right-hand-man, and with Achilles' child in her belly, she is deemed a free woman and so her life in thr war camp is a little easier. However, the majority of her story is spent with the women who remain enslaved, trying to support them in their new stations. She is a deeply sympathetic character, falling between the various worlds she inhabits, and the author conveys her somewhat lonely existence and being on the outside looking in incredibly well. By now, she knows how the camp and the leaders work, and so there are some elements of her character that feel like they've shifted towards 'going native'. However, at the same time she remains a thoroughly Trojan woman at heart, and again this balance is struck perfectly.

However, the setting of this book is that gap between the end of the seige of Troy and the launch of the ships to return to Greece. Ultimately, they are waiting for a favourable wind (in exactly the same way they had to on the way to Troy 10 years previous!). And that's exactly how it feels reading it. You're just waiting for something to happen. There are set pieces, but there is a fair amount of reflection on what happened in the previous book, and various similarities that make the book feel like something of a rehash of book one. I absolutely appreciate that this isn't all on the author - blame the source material! - but equally I wonder if there were elements that could have been explored more to create a more pacy and engaging narrative. 

Coupled with this, I found it very difficult to gauge the passing of time. Briseis is pregnant throughout, but at face value there seems to be very little change in her condition, suggesting that the time period covered is quite short. However, other elements would suggest more time has passed and surely she should be due to give birth by now? In some respects, it does feel timeless, and this compliments the feel of waiting with baited breath for the Gods to smile upon them. But equally this means that I found the narrative even slower again.

It is beautiful writing, but it just doesn't quite have the same feel and flow as the first book. The characters are less defined - for example, Pyrrhus should be a hugely strong presence, but he's more of a stroppy teenager trying to live up to Daddy's reputation. There are also lots of question marks left over his personality and motivations; too many for me to properly accept his character without question. 

I'm led to believe that the last book in the trilogy leaves Briseis behind and follows Cassandra as the main character. And honestly, I'm really not drawn to her at all in this book. I've always imagined her as something of a 'Luna Lovegood' personality; quite ethereal, but able to fight back when she needs to, and with an intense frustration that her prophecies aren't believed. However, in this she comes across as quite the brat. Now, I've been here before with Nesta Archeron, and after reading her book she became one if my favourite characters. So I'm hoping something similar will occur here. And I'm hoping that we get split POVs, as it would be good to see Briseis' story through to the end.

Overall, not as enjoyable as the first one, but hopefully an appropriate bridge to the finale.

This was my most anticipated adaptation in the series so far for many reasons. And as a result I found it the most disappointing one so far. It's not bad, not at all, but after so much build up there are a lot of elements that are left wanting. 

I'll come straight out with it. The resolution of the UST between Bryce and Hunt was hotter in the book. Everything in the GA just felt really one sided, with the voice actor for Bryce going for it and barely a peep out of Hunt. Very much a whimper rather than a 'roar' on his part! And yet conversely, I felt Hunt's voice actor portrayed the more heartfelt, romantic elements far better than Bryce; his alphahole protection drive really came across well, as did his soft and sweet side. 

I also feel like this is where the story as a whole loses its way a bit. By now, there are too many elements to keep an easy track of, and none of them seem to go into huge amounts of depth. As a result, I just don't care so much about the majority of the events. I do like all of the characters; again, this is where the audio does help, because I finally feel like I'm relating to them all properly. But what they're up to and their motives? Not so much. On this point, it clicked what my main issue is - a lot of the plot hinges on Danika's secrets. But there are so many, it starts yo come across as a bit of a crutch, like "oops, I've written myself into a corner. I know! I'll have the resolution be another secret Danika wad keeping!". 

And ah, the ending. I did wonder how they were going to deal with certain elements, but they did it fantastically well! But I totally forgot about the epilogue, which in the audio version really crashes the party! Those two chapters should have been the other way around IMO... 

I am really looking forward to the Flame and Shadow GA, but part one isn't out until December. And as much as I don't like leaving a series mid way through, I don't think I'd cope with switching back to the 'straight' audiobook. Ah well, plenty of other stuff to listen to between now and then!

Total honesty up front; I haven't quite been in the right headspace all the way through this book; whether due to a lack of sleep, feeling ill, in pain or just run down, I haven't been able to give it the full attention it deserves. However, despite that, I did find it an incredibly interesting read!

Famously, Queen Victoria is considered the 'grandmother of Europe' due to the strategic marriages she arranged for each of her nine children. This led to the majority of the ruling houses of Europe, including the Russian royal family, being related by blood or marriage. So, when war broke out, family was present on both sides. So why was no rescue of the Imperial Family even attempted by their allies, or indeed their 'enemies'? The third in a 'trilogy' of books on the subject of the last Tsar of Russia and his family (reviews for both of which I have posted previously), Rappaport turns her gaze here to the wider world and considers the plans, plots and problems faced by those who could have potentially intervened.

I will admit to being immediately daunted by the lengthy dramatis personae at the front of the book. There are of course the obvious names of the people concerned; the Imperial Family, various crowned heads and other well-known historical figures. But it's the number of 'back office' staff; diplomats, ambassadors, politicians and so on, that really gets confusing. Fortunately, the author has managed to include a little introduction to each person within the narrative, so it's not absolutely essential to read the list.

The narrative is written in a linear timeline, so you can follow the progression of the Imperial Family's fate from abdication to arrest and imprisonment, and the potential holes available for rescue missions to be affected. While there is a lot of crossover, given that the number of ways out were limited, the author has still taken the time to try and separate out each strand to make things easier to follow. However, this is where my brain fog got in the way - in many scenarios, it feels like you are reading the same plan over and over again, making it more difficult to keep on top of exactly who is claiming responsibility. It also doesn't help when certain individuals are implicated in multiple plots... 

What becomes more interesting though is the author's examination of the attitudes of the various royal families who could have offered aid, and the reasons why it was never forthcoming. Generally speaking, George V is the one blamed for the fact that they were not evacuated to the UK, but Rappaport considers this in far more detail. During the course of her research, she uncovered new sources of information which reshapes the story, and perhaps illustrates that blame could be apportioned in many more directions. Conversely, she shines a light on those that did attempt to secure the release of Nicholas and his family, whether by diplomatic means or via plans to rescue them. It's the hypocrisy of certain individuals that really sticks out to me, and that sense that the people who 'back up' the royals (I.e. private secretaries etc) are more concerned with protocol and maintaining the status quo than the royals themselves are! Something which, IMO, still occurs today. Throughout the correspondences and considerations of all those involved, it feels like they all forgot there were actual people waiting for their help - they act as if it was an actual crown they needed to rescue. 

As you can probably tell, the author has managed to infuse this non-fiction work with emotion and character, while reporting the facts as she finds them. It's written in a very clear style (despite the number of people involved) and I feel like I'd definitely get more out of this after a second read when my head is clearer. For now though, I'm content that I've read it and the fact that it looks at this story from an entirely different angle is fascinating.

The best and worst thing about this audio version is the relationship development between Bryce and Hunt. The narration makes it feel so much more 'real' than reading the physical book, and the pace of the audio really helps make things feel natural. Once again, Colleen Delaney as the narrator does a great job and really enhances the cast's performances. The downside is the UST. It's torturous! But really well played... so I guess it's not really a bad thing at all.

In the same way I don't really get the Chaol haters, I'm still a bit lost as to why people are so down on Tharion. No, he's not the greatest character SJM has ever come up with, but equally I don't think he's any worse than any of the other guys in this series. The performer manages to bring his attitude off the page and make the cheeky banter with Bryce good to listen to, and yet also carries the serious stuff pretty well. 

The biggest issue is the story itself. IMO, reading the first half of Sky and Breath is like playing 3D chess - characters all over the place, moves and countermoves and plays coming out of left-field and you can only really follow everything if you're a grand master. As with HOEAB, the graphic audio does help streamline things somewhat, but there's still an awful lot going on, without that much actually happening. 

Still looking forward to part 2 though!

As with all SJM books, the second half of the story has a lot more going on, which means there's plenty to keep you focused on here! This graphic audio version presents the twists and turns incredibly well, and makes things so much easier to follow than the physical book, but you do have to pay slightly more attention to this one; if you don't, it's still incredibly easy to lose the thread of the story. 

The fact that the characters are brought to life also means I feel more of a connection to them than I did previously. I'm still not as invested as I am with ACOTAR or TOG, but there is at least some feeling of sympathy for them there now. In particular, Hunt never particularly stood out for me as a male of the same calibre as SJM's other male leads, but the performance in this recording has given him a little bit more depth. At the moment, I think my favourite character is actually Lehabah! I'd also note that I prefer Gabriel Michaels' (I think that's the right actor) performance as Lucien - his Micah just feels a wee bit over-acted. His voice suits Fox Boy better!!

What I did find interesting was that I was drawn to keep listening to this one, especially when getting to the crux of matters. I intended to fall asleep listening last night... two hours later I was still awake, repeatedly renewing my sleep timer. And today I went back to work after listening on my lunch break, but kept the book going! This really did surprise me, given that I have previously been indifferent to this book. And I've already started book two! I think this in itself is a ringing endorsement! 

I'm a huge fan if graphic audios generally, and would love to see more audiobooks done this way!

It's safe to say that Crescent City is my least favourite series of the Maasverse, mainly because I like my magic with the sense that we're lost in the mists of time. That, and this is the most complex storyline; the number of characters and magical beings you're introduced to is insane, and it's really difficult to keep up with everything that's going on. At least, that was my impression when I read the book. Now I've listened to part one of the Graphic Audio, it makes a whole lot more sense! 

I really like the slower pace of the audio in this case; it certainly still keeps the story moving along and the narration definitely maintains engagement, but it doesn't have that same frenetic energy that makes your head explode when you're reading the physical book. The narrator (the same woman who narrates the ACOSF graphic audio) does a great job at bringing the story to life and the cast all fulfil their roles really well. No, there isn't any particular performance in here that has me mesmerised to the extent that certain performers in the ACOTAR audios do *cough* Jon Vertullo *cough*, but the performances are good and really capture the attitude of the characters. And I'm hoping that as the story progresses in Part 2, this will get even better. The one small criticism I have is that a lot of the male performers have very similar tones of voice, so when there's a group of them talking it can be a little difficult to tell who's who. 

Some of the problems I have with the story remain - cars, phones, guns; Lunathion is a modern metropolis and it just leaves me wondering what the point of the magic is. And the reasoning behind 'deputising' Bryce is paper-thin at best, which detracts from the plot as a whole. There's too much going on and just too much background 'noise' for a first book. I can imagine SJM's mind being full of this world and no doubt she can see it all in crystal clear detail, but on this occasion it's not been set down on paper with her usual skill.

I suspect that this story would play out best in a visual medium - the worldbuilding and breadth of beings would make this an absolute feast for the eyes. Given how much the graphic audio version has increased my enjoyment, I can only imagine what a movie might do. 

Keeping the momentum going; heading straight into Part 2!!

I'm very excited; my employers are sponsoring Tracy Chevalier as a headline author at a local literary festival later this month. As part of our involvement, the firm's book club (run by yours truly) get a meet and greet session with her and an opportunity to discuss her latest release! But I promise you, I'm reviewing this book in good faith and I genuinely do think it deserves the full five star treatment.

I did go into this book feeling a little apprehensive; the fact that it isn't my usual fare and I wouldn't necessarily have picked it up by choice alone was anxiety inducing! But, as with 'Girl with a Pearl Earring', I read the book in record time (less than 24 hours from start to finish) and found myself utterly transported, this time to Venice and the island of Mureno, and the story of Orsola Rosso and her glassmaking family. It is a beautifully written piece, juxtaposing the coarseness of family unafraid to speak their minds and stand their ground with the idyll of their little corner of the world, the wonder of the City of Water and the skill and dedication to which they offer their chosen craft. 

The first couple of paragraphs did throw me a bit; the author essentially breaks the fourth wall and talks directly to her reader, talking about time as a stone skimming across the Venitian water and how it flows differently there. The writing then reverts to third person and Orsola's story begins. It's only at the start of the second chapter, where it happens again, and then the third, where it happens again, that it becomes clear the author meant what she said. Orsola and those dear to her experience the passing of time differently; while a hundred years may pass on terrafirma, only a few years pass for them, and so somehow she and her family experience six centuries of history, right up to the present day. The world moves forward, as do they, but far more slowly - it's a gorgeous reflection of how traditional workmanship and the skills passed down through the generations is a way of keeping that history alive. 

There are incidental brushes with 'real' history - no spoilers, but you may be able to guess at least one of the cameo stars based purely on the setting. However, while they are entertaining and give the reader a touchstone to place themselves in time, they are just that; cameos. In this instance, I was glad the author stuck with her own character's story - while it may not be action-packed or full of suspense, it absolutely stands up for itself and I would have been disappointed if Orsola's story had been subsumed into the world of someone famous. In general terms I do like my books with a bit more going on in them, but I appreciate that this is the author's style and it definitely works.

Even the darker moments of plague, war and loss are beautifully rendered; the writing just fills every crevice of your soul whether you are following en event in great detail, or something is only touched upon briefly. It's not always comfortable; the shift in family dynamic when new spouses join the household isn't always the smoothest transition, either for the character or the reader, but simply because of that it feels grounded and reflective of reality. 

And oh, my goodness, the ending! If I cried at books I'd probably be bawling. It's certainly not the ending I was hoping for, but nevertheless it is totally inkeeping with the rest of the story, the premise and the emotiveness of the writing as a whole. 

I still can't say that I would be automatically drawn to this type of book moving forward, but after two pleasantly surprising experiences I'm certainly going to add more of Tracy Chevalier's books to my TBR pile. If you want a transporting and heartfelt read, seriously give this book a try.