savage_book_review's Reviews (328)

I've literally been waiting for a whole year to have this book arrive at the library for me to borrow as they only have 1 copy in the whole system! Another of Dominic Sandbrook's 'Adventures in Time' series, I was particularly interested to read this one as my knowledge of Alexander the Great is very limited, and I've always found that learning about a new subject is always made easier if you start with a children's book. It's why I'm a huge advocate of books like this and the Horrible Histories series even for adults - they're great primers so you can understand the basics, before getting bogged down in more scholarly tomes.

In this instance, the author hasn't gone down the route of telling the story through the eyes of various real life characters who were there, I guess because there are such limited primary sources it would have essential been fiction. However, this is a very well written narrative history, presenting the factual history in an almost 'novelisation' format. It's got a great balance between the objective factual events and the more fictionalised scenes which portray those events, and certainy kept me engaged! I can see this absolutely appealing to its target demographic; just enough battles and blood to satisfy a younger reader's curiosities, without being overly graphic, and yet still clear and concise in its storytelling.

Clearly, there are elements of Alexander's story which have been toned down or omitted to suit the target audience, so it's definitely not a comprehensive history. However, it is a very good overview of his movements and his famed conquering of large swathes of territory. But, while it does give some insight into the man as well as the myth, I was slightly disappointed that the author didn't explore Alexander's character more. For example, while two of his wives do make an appearance (plus a brief hint of a dalliance withe the Queen of the Amazons), there is absolutely no hint that Alexander may have also had male partners. I do think this is a shame; I'm not saying it needs to be explicit, but there should be nothing wrong with stating the fact that same-sex relationships were accepted and understood more than 2000 years ago. 

One of the podcasts I enjoy, 'The Ancients', has a presenter who is an expert on Alexander, but where I haven't known the history I've always been a bit confused when he discusses the topic. However, having read this, some of his comments now make a little more sense! Thinking I might need to go back and re-listen tona couple of old episodes to see if I can follow them better now I have this entry-level knowledge. I have tried listening to the author's podcast, 'The Rest is History', but unfortunately I found it incredibly dull - when you've got me falling asleep whole you're talking about the Tudors, then something is definitely wrong! But his books so far have generally been far more engaging and interesting, and I really wish he'd bring some of this energy to his work aimed at the grown ups! 

Was it worth waiting a whole year for? Probably not, but I am glad I've read it and it would be one I'd point others to if they want to dip their toe into the world of this historical behemoth.

Something is happening to those who take the Longevity pill. Those who are supposed to live forever are getting ill. And worse, they're dying. Richard Pincent has to find out why his drugs are no longer working, or risk his entire empire crumbling. Could Anna and Peter hold the key? Or has Mother Nature finally had enough of being denied?

This is certainly the best flowing of the three stories - the reader is comfortable enough with the world now that it's easier to fall straight into the narrative. It maintains a good pace throughout, keeping things moving while also allowing the characters to have moments of stillness, and the building of tension is steady almost until the climax. There are a few perspective shifts throughout, not just to each of the main characters but some supporting cast too. Surprisingly, this doesn't have a huge impact on the flow of things, but there is still a momentary jolt when you switch to a lesser character and it takes a moment to remember how they fit into the story. 

If my maths is right, we're about 10 months on from the end of 'The Resistance', but Anna and Peter's relationship has shifted again, this time feeling like a couple on the brink. To me, Jude has the most realistic development, and Sheila almost feels like she's regressed rather than progressed, so to some extent the feeling of time that has passed between the end of the last book and now feels inconsistent. It's not a comfortable dynamic for either pair, but it works for the tale being told.  It also reminds you how young these characters are, which again sometimes feels at odds with the way they are portrayed.

The twists and turns do make for a few surprises; some bits you'll be able to predict, others not so much. However, the resolution is a little rushed for my liking - without spoiling anything, I wasn't particularly impressed with a scientist who thinks they've been able to thoroughly investigate an item in literally 30 seconds. As the whole story hangs on their discovery (or lack thereof), I do feel that the story could have been taken in a slightly different direction so as to make these investigations feel more realistic and dramatic. There are a couple of revelations that are also squeezed into the same scene, and so it came across to me as if the author had forgotten her word limit and realised she was a bit too close to it. Likewise, there are a couple of seemingly loose threads through the book that feel important when you're reading them, but don't actually lead anywhere. 

Overall, I think the premise of the trilogy makes for a great story and I really enjoyed the ideas set forth, even if the writing style wasn't always to my taste. I would love to see this developed into a TV or film series, as I think that medium would allow for some additional exploration of this particular dystopia. For once, I don't think I'd complain if they went "off-book" as there is so much more that could be done with this world and these characters. 

A good end to a good series.

This book made me react in ways I've never done before while reading. I hesitate to use the word 'triggered', as I can't say there's anything in books that would send me into a complete nervous breakdown or have me clutching my pearls, but equally I've never picked up and put down a book so many times! I could only ever digest a couple of chapters at a time, before a feeling of overwhelming anxiety? Annoyance? Nervousness? overtook me and I had to step away for a few minutes before my next attempt. And for a young adult book to have that sort of impact, I have to give kudos to the author! 

The upside is that, as I hit about 3/4 of the way through, the book seemed to find its rhythm, action started happening and there was more to keep me invested. I still had to stop a couple of times, but I managed to read a larger chunk to finish it off in one hit. And I am still intending on reading book three in the series! The premise is really good, and the development of the themes throughout really hammers home the terrifying nature of eternal life and what people will do to attain it. 

As with 'The Declaration', the story itself is quite simplistic, but it's definitely darker in tone and there is more depth in places. In particular, where the story focuses on Peter, we get to learn more about his character and he begins to become fleshed out. Likewise, it is again fairly predictable, but this in no way spoiled my enjoyment of the story. The only issue I found with this added layering is that it feels like all the worldbuilding that was missing from book one has been 'infodumped' in book two. For example, we finally get to understand what 'The Declaration' is as the full text of it is included. IMO, this is something that should have been set out much earlier. 

I will admit to struggling a bit with the difference in dynamic between Anna and Peter in this one. The book seemingly only takes place a few months after the end of book one, and yet they both feel like they have aged a good few years in that time - it's very much an 'old married couple' vibe. Similarly, a big part of this book is the choice they face between signing the Declaration and Opting Out, and propagating the next generation. Indeed, almost at the very start of the book it is mentioned in passing Peter recalling the first time he and Anna made love. Now, I get that this is a world where there are basically no children, and so I'd expect that the concept of someone being under age is probably non-existent. Similarly, the idea of childhood being something 'separate' is only seen through the lens of them being surplus to requirements. But when you bear in mind how immature and, yes, indoctrinated Anna was in book one, and the fact that she had barely turned fifteen then... There was just something about the whole idea of these young, vulnerable people living life as if they are much older that just felt a bit disconcerting to me.

The writing has aged up a little too. I'm certain that this book isn't suitable for that middle grade audience this time around! There are still elements of the storytelling that could be improved upon, but it does read better than 'The Declaration' in terms of maturity. Strangely, I think the presentation of the book is perhaps the issue here - the font type and size gives it the feel of a 'Scholastic' book, which I associate with slightly younger readers, so some part of my brain struggles to comprehend the darker scenes that appear as being appropriate. 

A very different reading experience for me. Not one that I particularly want to repeat, but I come back to the fact that the book must have something going for it to get that kind of reaction!

Finally made it to the end of the series!

First thing to say is, if you think the book is a hefty tome, the audiobook is a marathon - over 33 hours! And yet there is so much going on in this final instalment that it doesn't feel anywhere close to that! The story is a long, slow build, full of emotion, revelation and pay offs, with set piece battles and skirmishes that give you all the action and drama you could want. It really is a masterclass is how to draw an epic story to a beautiful and satisfying conclusion, with no real threads left properly hanging... although, like everyone else, I really want to know what Lorcan did! 🤭😁 And there is absolutely scope for her to return to the series one day (I would LOVE to see Aelin, Feyre and Bryce together, with Rhys, Rowan and Hunt sharing a bottle of whiskey or five and despairing of their womenfolk's inability to behave...)

That being said, I do think reading this one has far more emotional impact than listening to it. Somehow, I got more immersed in the world when reading from the physical page, and I found it easier to digest the many different changes in POV. The sheer number of characters that SJM manages to balance is incredible, and she does it so well, but if you do struggle with multiple perspectives this is not going to be a book you'll enjoy. The secondary characters all have such wonderful story arcs though; there's something in each one of their stories that makes them so easy to fall in with and like. I'd argue it's the most 'even' ensemble cast of the author's works and all of their conclusions are pitch perfect.

There is a small part of me that wonders if the story did get away from SJM slightly towards the end. It all works and ties together, but there are a few small things that feel a bit fudged in here. By no means does this spoil my enjoyment, but it does send my brain off into questioning mode; not great when you're trying to concentrate on the narration! Likewise, where this book is so long and there is constantly something happening, it's very easy for the story to get away from the reader. Trying to remember who comprised which group was often an issue, especial without the written reminders of the physical book, and while the battle scenes are well handled, there's a lot of repeated tactics etc that kind of make them merge into one a bit.

I'd also say this is probably the weakest of the audiobooks in terms of narration. Elizabeth Evans does a sterling job, but where she uses identical intonation on certain words and phrases *cough* for a heartbeat *cough*, it does make it a harder listen. She certainly can't be accused of being monotone or boring to listen to, but equally there were certain moments that I don't think hit quite as hard as they should have because there just wasn't the oomph/gentle sincerity/depth of emotion in her voice. The engagement just faded away, which is a shame.

I am 1000% looking forward to the dramatised graphic audios when they arrive, as I suspect they will pick up on a few of the issues that arise with the 'straight' audiobook and give us the missing ingredient. Still, well worth listening to!

Anna lives her life believing that she and her cohorts are Surplus to requirements, taking up valuable resources that rightly belong to Legal people. Because when it's possible to pop a pill and live forever, who needs children?

This is advertised as a YA book, but I would say it leans slightly more towards the middle grade end of the spectrum. The writing is fairly simplistic and reads very much like it's aimed more towards that audience. That being said, the book does deal with some quite dark themes throughout and, although they are written in an appropriate way, it might not be suitable for young readers without your being prepared to have conversations about the events. This 34 year old big kid thoroughly enjoyed it though!

The story is fast-paced; again, it's definitely written to keep a younger reader's attention, so once the plot kicks in it doesn't really stop. There are threads that appear to lead into the next book, but there are also a good number of resolutions and payoffs to make a perfectly good standalone. The downside to this pacing is that there are various plot points that feel under-developed, somewhat formulaic and/or predictable, but I appreciate that's looking at it with an adult's perspective. Indeed, I'd be intrigued to see this developed into a 'grown up' book; it absolutely has the potential to make for a thrilling full length novel. 

The relationship between Anna and Peter is very sweet, and although the development is a little bit rushed (IMO this is one of the elements that feels more middle grade), it's got that familiar dynamic of the rule-maker and the rule-breaker which allows the reader's imagination to fill in the gaps. While I do like the 'young love' element and can accept that it's a fairly standard part of this sort of story, I don't think it was entirely necessary in this case - the story would have worked just as well with there being only a solid bond of friendship between the two. 

I would 100% be an Opt Out - the idea of living forever is more terrifying to me than what comes 'after'. It makes you think about the issues that the world would face if people stopped dying, and  is quite frankly a terrifying prospect to consider, especially when it's children who become 'the enemy'. 

I'm looking forward to seeing where this series goes next!

My initial reaction after finishing this book is that I wish I'd had it available to read immediately after 'Fourth Wing'. Not because I couldn't bear the wait to find out what happened next, or because I needed another Xaden fix, but because the break between the two made this one so much more difficult to get into. I can remember the events of book one no problem, but the intricacies and niceties of dragon riding, Basgaith War College and the general detail of worldbuilding smack you between the eyes in this book. Without the context of 'Fourth Wing' fresh in your memory, you are definitely left trying to place certain people and events and it left me a bit lost and confused in places, which I don't think would have been the case if I had been able to binge read both. It feels very technical and, I suppose, like it's being taught as a Battle Brief lesson at Basgaith (which may be what the author is going for, given the intros of each chapter). 

There were a few things I'd heard about this book that I was looking forward to discovering, but upon reading they didn't do as much for me as I'd hoped. The 'throne scene', I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it was more than what I got. Not that it didn't make me a little hot under the collar, but it cries out for a comparison to the ACOMAF throne scene, and I know which I found sexier. Similarly, the ending... I can understanding why those that are full on fans are rocked by it, and it's certainly a great hook into the next book, but nevertheless I felt a little underwhelmed. I will absolute be reading Onyx Storm upon its release, but I'm just not feeling that dire impatience for January to get here. I'll add it to my reserve queue at the library and see when it arrives (and make sure I do a full reread before starting it!).

I wasn't a huge fan of Violet's character in this book either. She's just a bit hypocritical and cuts her nose off to spite her face, when the whole thing could have felt more cohesive with a bit of understanding rather than her abrasive stubbornness. It seemed to me that the author had possibly introduced too many characters, what with the number that seemed to fade in and out of the background, or have moments that don't really lead anywhere. I get that every hero needs a good foil, but both Cat and Varrish are wasted; I was just starting to lean into the violent disgust of them both when the author gave them an 'easy' out. Even Andarna, sassy adolescent that she is, only gets a few good lines and not much action. The only character that seemed to stay true to the one plotted out in Fourth Wing was Xaden, and he is by far and away the most interesting character in the cast. And I could definitely do with more Bodhi in my life - he needs to be more than a secondary character!

It is a solid story and the overarching vision is a masterpiece, but it didn't hit enough of my expectations to really shine.

I have conflicting thoughts on this book having now read it as its own entity rather than as part of the tandem read. One one hand, it feels like a side-quest or spin off, rather than part of the main narrative arc, and while I don't really get the general hate for Chaol, having him as the main character and away from the rest of the group doesn't help lift the storyline. However, at the same time this is the first book in the series where I've felt that inexplicable draw to just keep reading/listening, even when it's going to make me late/keep me up/stop me from doing more important things. And not just because I wanted to get through it so I could start Kingdom of Ash. I was just more invested than I was expecting! 

I like the final pairings that result from this story, but then all of the pairings up to now have felt 'right', and they've mostly fallen apart! There's a lot of serial monogamy going on, and while it doesn't sit quite right with me just how quickly the various feelings seem to come and go, I can appreciate that it's a good illustration of the characters' growth. That being said, the writing of the developing relationships here is a bit clunky in places; the change in Yrene's feelings especially feels really uneven. Considering how good SJM is at writing the enemies-to-lovers trope, this one really falls short of the mark.

I also love that, even with Aelin sidelined, little tidbits if her story so far start to pay dividends here. The reader gets to be in the know while characters remain in the dark (to an extent), and some of the payoffs that result are beautifully done. 

But. This read through is also the first time I've found myself getting annoyed with one of SJM's writing 'tics'... I can laugh about the vulgar gestures and the watery bowels, but the amount of times she measures moments in heartbeats really started to get to me. I probably don't pick up on this as much when physically reading the books (and I don't recall it ever bothering me in previous reads), but the phrasing, coupled with the narrators almost identical inflections every single time this came up really makes the sheer volume of usage stand out.

Quick question regarding the narrator and Yrene's voice... am I going mad, or has she dropped the accent she used for Yrene is Assassin's Blade? Seems very unlike her to change the voice of a character half way through...

I am able-bodied, and cannot imagine being in Chaol's situation. Indeed, I suspect I'd be as desperate for a cure as he is. But I appreciate that the 'disabled person hating themselves because they can't walk' storyline has been used elsewhere in the past, and has been criticised for belittling the people and emotions behind these scenarios. Obviously in this case the fantasy setting makes a cure more readily available, and Chaol's emotions are part of the problem, but I just keep wondering if his character arc (and 'redemption' for want of a better word) would have been better served by his having to adapt and grow despite his disability? But then would it fit the world the character lives in? I just don't know.

Overall, this book is definitely better read in tandem with 'Empire of Storms', but nevertheless is still engaging and stands on its own merits. It certainly is not the best book in the series, but is a nice little breather before the emotional rollercoaster of KoA.

I've been waiting a while to read this one... 'Beauty and the Beast' retellings are right up there for me alongside 'Hades and Persephone' ones. And as this is the official twist on the tale, I had high hopes! Sadly however, they weren't quite as fulfilled as I'd hoped.

Firstly, I do love the premise that Belle's mother is the Enchantress. It adds a whole other layer to the canon version of the story, but the retelling goes into far more depth, giving you a proper backstory for Maurice and Rosalind. Though it's not hugely detailed, the worldbuilding really enhances the experience, giving explanations and justification for the Enchantress' actions. This makes it so much better than the brief retelling of a Christian parable that the original tale includes with no real context. I enjoyed the focus this whole portion of the story relieved, and the dual tineline shifts between Rosalind and Belle's stories really worked for me.

Unfortunately, I didn't find a lot else to rave about. Apart from the ending, Belle's story broadly follows the canon version of events, so there is very little that jumps out at you. Even the 'big' changes don't feel like they have much if an impact to the overall tale. I think the sweetest bit is Belle trying to teach the Beast to cook, but yeah, there aren't a great number of meaningful revisions, which makes the whole thing fall a bit flat.

Likewise, basically everyone you recognise feels totally out of character. The Beast is just a petulant teenager rather than an ugly soul turned good by the power of love. Gaston is a soft, bumbling idiot more often than not (although he does have an inkling of the mean streak). Even Belle just doesn't chime with her movie counterpart - somehow she's harder, and perhaps more modern feeling. The lack of familiarity made it so much harder sink in and enjoy. I also wasn't hugely impressed with the replacement villain of the piece. It felt a bit pointless when  you already have such a good villain in Gaston that you could use, and while it wasn't hard to follow why things turned out the way they did, it doesn't make for the most thrilling villain arc.

Generally speaking, the writing and layout us quite patchy in places - there are certain a few typos in my copy, and several instruments where a character is experiencing a flashback or memory, but there is nothing to separate it from the main text - you only realise you're looking into their mind when you're half way down the page and it suddenly dawns on you why you're suddenly reading about a different setting! 

This is my third Twisted Tales, and so far they've been average at best. However, the ones I've read have all been by this author. I have two more on my TBR shelf, both by different authors, so I will.give those a go at some point to see if it's a series problem, or an author problem for me.

I really wanted to try and do the tandem read with 'Tower of Dawn' via audiobook, but I don't have the patience to try and set up all of the bookmarks, nor have I figured out a way to make it work smoothly, so I'm reading then one at a time this go round... I'm interested to see what difference it makes to the flow of the overall narrative, at any rate! And nervous about having to now wait another 22+ hours before getting to the resolution of the climax of this book...

Despite the different story threads happening contemporaneously, they are woven together so well that it all still forms a cohesive narrative and it doesn't feel disjointed. Likewise, while I'm not sure that each thread receives equal page time, they are all well thought out and the whole thing feels very balanced. 

The book serves a dual purpose - it absolutely moves the overall series plot along apace with a great story in itself, giving you a great mix of action, adventure, romance and jeopardy. But equally it's clearly another case of a book serving to move all of the players into the right places at the right times to make sure they're ready for the grand finale. You are rewarded with a lot of payoffs from earlier books in the series, and with the development of newer characters and so it is certainly not lacking in elements to pull you in and keep you reading, but there is a small part of me that keeps saying 'just get on with it already!'

There are a few moments that I found harder to follow via the audio, for example Elena's story and the events that laid the foundations for the current predicament. I get it, but it's not a particularly straightforward backstory (IMO) and, once again, because it takes so much longer to listen to than to read, it just didn't make as much sense. On the other hand, I think I spotted an error in the text that I would probably not have picked up on when reading the physical book. Although it's a throwaway comment, it contains quite a big spoiler for later in the book (although saying that, you're 100% expecting it by this point if you're familiar with the Maasverse). 

On to 'Tower of Dawn'!

I'm incredibly torn by this book. It seems to examine every facet of the worst of humanity in a way that is enthralling, horrifying and thought-provoking all at the same time. Criminals in a dystopian future USA (I hesitate to wonder if it's actually all that dystopian!) have a choice; serve out their prison sentence, or sign up for the Chain-Gang All-Stars programme. For three years, you are on constant show to viewers worldwide, and there's the small matter of being faced with a televised fight to the death against a Link from another Chain every few weeks. Survive your time, and walk away free.

The characters that form the Chain are varied and well drawn and it becomes incredibly important that you are seeing them as human beings rather than convicted killers, r@pists and so on. You are also introduced to members of other chains and, despite yourself, you will likely find yourself rooting for one or more of them; the rich entitled mem behind the scenes that simply see this theatre of suffering as a way to make money; the fans who obsess over every nuance and declare undying love for their favourite all-star; and the campaigners who believe that the whole system is flawed. Ultimately, it paints an ugly picture of celebrity culture exacerbated by reality TV - the crowd are divorced from the horror that is played out in front of them and seem to very quickly dismiss the reason the participants ended up there; they've committed heinous crimes and yet people don't seem to care as long as they are entertained. And yet, it also serves as a really important reminder there is more to most criminals than their crime.

The cast is diverse, with the main character being in a same-sex relationship with a seemingly bisexual woman, who bounces back and forth between her and a male member of the chain. Another Chain member is trans, and there are all manner of races and cultures represented. The truth that the black population are statstically over-represented in the incarcerated population is well reflected, as is increasing racial tension and extremism that seems to be coming into view. 

The author has also used the story to hammer home some real truths about the state of the penal system in the USA. Oddly for a novel, this is done by way of footnotes throughout, which provide a mix of factual notes about real court cases and legislation, and fictional asides regarding elements of the story. Some of the statistics are just mind-blowing, and the depictions of solitary confinement, police brutality and prisons run for profit don't feel like they belong in this odd future - they are sadly already here.

I think the story is great and I can see it making an amazing TV series, but the writing did come across as a bit disjointed. I was at the end before I'd really settled in, and I was waiting throughout for that moment where I was comfortable enough with the background and worldbuilding to fully immerse myself. The book certainly has depth to it as it truly makes you thing, but it feels like it's missing the exposition to give the writing the depth it needs. There are moments where the writer tries to set out his stall, but it gets lost in the confusion of constantly shifting perspectives and voices, and your mind is too busy trying to work out who these new people are and why they are important to fully absorb the plot points. While the footnotes play an important role, they do feel somewhat out of place and I think the fictional elements of these could have been better served by the author slowing the pace just a tad at the beginning and introducing them into the main narrative. That, or have an introductory device which sets out the parameters of the world (a bit like the Hunger Games does with the explanation of the creation of the Districts). Sadly, there are also several important moments which miss the mark impact-wise, including the ending, which comes far too soon; what should have been a hurricane is  more like a gentle spring breeze. 

There are inevitable comparisons with The Hunger Games and, while this is certainly justified, it is very different in tone and style. I'm not sure that the comparison serves this book well though; it just doesn't hit the same levels for me and I suspect that if you're coming into this purely because it's been sold to you as a Hunger Games vibe, you'll be left disappointed. Which is a shame, because underneath the issues there is a very good book.