savage_book_review's Reviews (328)

I only knew Cleopatra Selene existed because of one fictional book I read years ago by Michelle Moran, which shares this book's title. The daughter of Queen Cleopatra and Mark Antony, because of a distinct lack of source material so often she, her twin brother Alexander Helios and their younger brother Ptolemy are erased or ignored from the narrative, so it was great to come across this book on KU which sorts through the fragments we know to try and provide a biography of the woman who went from Egyptian princess to Roman prisoner, before becoming a queen in her own right.

The majority of the book talks around the subject of Cleopatra Selene's life by describing the wider world, family ties and so on rather than focusing directly on the subject. However, where this would usually really bug me, the author does such a good job of setting expectations at the outset that I felt like I was reading a cohesive narrative throughout. Little may be known about her directly, but I feel like I got to know her better through the world she lived in via this work. 

It's not a particularly heavy work either, which really helps. Yes, there are moments where perhaps it feels like we've strayed a bit too far from the story, and moments where I found it difficult to follow and my eyes glazed over a bit, but generally speaking it's clear, concise and an engaging read. 

It doesn't spend too long dwelling on the ifs, buts and maybes, which also helps the flow. There is some exploration of different possibilities for some major moments i.e. what happened to Alexander and Ptolemy and the date of her own passing, but again these are dealt with in a very straightforward style that doesn't tangle you up in different theories. The book certainly doesn't claim to be the definitive authority, but it is written  in such a way that you feel like you've gotten reliable, well thought out answers that still leave room for alternative arguments.

I think the biggest disappointment for me is that the substantive content ended 65% of the way through the book. The rest was footnotes, images and so on. Now, I appreciate that scholarly works requires these things, but for such a short book that does seem rather excessive. I think I'd have been more annoyed if I'd bought a copy because that's essentially a third of the book that most people will skim at best. But equally, again, this does illustrate just how tight the narrative is.

I get the feeling I'll be revisiting Michelle Moran's fictional version of this story again before roo long, as well as some of the other novels mentioned in here too!

Formerly published as 'The King's Grave', this book explores the events that led to the discovery of the grave of Richard III in a social services car park back in 2012 alongside the historical narrative of his life, reign and subsequent demonisation by the Tudors, Shakespeare and others. 

This really is a book of two halves for me. The chapters alternate between the two strands, and each have their own merits. The story of Langley's reasons for initiating the project are far from what you would expect. Her reporting of the process from inception to discovery is candid, concise and has a good balance between the objective facts of what happened and her subjective emotional attachment to the story. The detail is there, but it's not so heavily laden with archaeological technobabble or the minutiae of every layer of earth and discovery to make it a slog to read thorough. 

To start with, the historical side has a very similar tone and provides a great insight into the life of this fifteenth century King. However, this aspect does start to get a little bogged down in trying to refute the Shakespearian caricature and on a few occasions it was easy to lose the thread of the point the author was making. The overall picture is very well told, but the writing style just doesn't have quite the same level of engagement for me. I will say that there are also a good number of points and phrases that are repeated, which started to grate on my nerves. 

This version of the book was republished to tie in with the recent film made about the discovery. As a result, I am a little disappointed that there wasn't any update made to this edition, reflecting back on the time that has passed and dealing with the reinterment of Richard's remains. At the time the book was initially published, there was still a Court battle going on over the matter and, while it was clearly resolved, I would have liked to have seen the authors' thoughts on the results of the case and their involvement in his reburial. Feels like they missed a trick!

Overall, I think I got more out of the TV documentary about the dig than I did the book, and I already have a fairly good knowledge of the Wars of the Roses and the reigns of Edward IV, Henry VI and Richard III, so I didn't necessarily need the history lesson either. If you're just coming to this period of history, this book is probably a good starting point though.

Since I've listened to the ACOTAR graphic audios three times since January (no, I haven't cheated and counted them as rereads...they're just my comfort books now), I figured it would probably be a good idea to switch it up and listen to the TOG audios. No graphic audios of these yet (although they are coming), so it's just the standard audiobooks read by the voice of the Maasverse, Elizabeth Evans.

I really do like the story of Throne of Glass; yes, it is relatively predictable and doesn't quite give you the full depth of the 'Life or death competiton' trope, but it's an easily digestible narrative with interesting characters and clear scope for more, which is perfectly acceptable for the opening salvo in a series. I just think it's unfortunate that  this was initially pitched as a YA series - it works, but it just feels like something is missing... it needs the extra grit, darkness and detail to bring out its full potential. 

As always, Elizabeth Evans' narration is very good - her range of voices for each character is fab; she is almost a one woman full cast! Although there are a few voices she uses that are just a bit too similar to those used in the Crescent City audios, so there were moments where I had to remind myself which Fae world I was inhabiting!

The main issue I have with this audio is pacing. I know a lot of people listen to their audios at quicker-than-normal speeds, but I just can't do it. I might be a speed reader, but I'm not a speed-listener! The upside is that I get to be fully immersed in the world. The downside is that it makes even the most pacy books feel a bit drawn out. In this case, I found the story dragged on just a leetle bit too long for my liking. I think this book suits my reading pace better, and I certainly got more out of the visual. 

But I'm looking forward to hearing the rest of the series in this format. And then again in Graphic Audio format when they get her! SJM may as well have direct access to my bank account at this point...

This wasn't previously on my TBR list, but the author was mentioned in connection with my work's book club and I wanted to get it off my mind. I didn't go in with high expectations as it's not usually the sort of book I'd enjoy, but I was pleasantly surprised by how easy I found this to read and the feelings it evoked.

Told from the point of view of Griet, the writing somehow flows beautifully despite her limited world view and lack of self-confidence. You are absolutely seeing the world through her eyes; the actions of certain characters and the reasons for them remain shrouded in mystery, with your only insight being Griet's thoughts about them. The undertones of jealousy on the part of Catherina and Cornelia are strong, but there's no real hard and fast reasoning for it, especial on Cornelia's part. To me, she just comes across as a bit of a sociopath!

Likewise, you experience Griet's feelings incredibly deeply, even though she cannot always clearly explain or name them, even to herself. I wouldn't say it's a comfortable read; there are so many moments within the story that have potentially dark undertones, and the various characters' treatment of Griet is questionable at best. Even throughout the development of Griet's working relationship with Vermeer, the writing gives a sense that something is just 'off' about the whole thing. It's cleverly framed around a sense of infatuation from Griet's part, but at the same time Vermeer's actions aren't painted as being 'rose-tinted' by that infatuation. Instead, there are moments that suggest something more sinister on his part, even though they could have a perfectly innocent explanation. I was expecting it to be a case of when he did something to her, rather than if. 

The story itself is quite pedestrian - there are no real sudden shocks or gripping action sequences, and yet it keeps you reading with very little effort. It also keeps you guessing throughout; there are several examples of moments where you clearly expect something to happen but the author takes the road less travelled instead. The ending is quite satisfying, but there are several threads left loose, which I would have liked more exploration of. 

While this is never going to make a list of my favourite books and I doubt I would read it again, I don't regret spending the time on it. It may not be my style, but I can appreciate that it's a very well written piece and absolutely deserving of praise.

Frances has found some semblance of peace at last. She loves her husband dearly, her sons are her pride and joy, and for the most part her worries about being denounced as a witch are over. But there's a new favourite at the Court of James I, out to claim as much power and wealth as he can by any means necessary.

Tracy Borman is a wonderful writer, and over the course of the series it does seem that her style and ease with fiction has improved greatly. The book is well paced, the story ebbs and flows well and the main characters are well established by this point, making the whole thing a very comfortable read. Seeing Frances able to be a little more herself was lovely, and the scenes with her growing family are so heartwarming, as are the moments where she's able to take the time to be with her husband. 

At the same time, there are darker scenes that contrast starkly, but are pitched very well to give the reader the sense of shock, unease or disgust, without being overpowering. A lot of these of course include the villain of the piece, George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham. Again, he's very well drawn; egotistical, smarmy and just generally unpleasant, and yet he reflects reality by drawing you in anyway. 

However, I'm just not sure this book was actually needed in the series. Where Frances was at the centre of the action in the first book, by this stage it's more like we're seeing the events at Court through her eyes. She's the centre of the story, but it's not actually about her. There are a few nice moments of redemption and closing the loop, but otherwise I wouldn't say there's a massive amount of action for her. In particular, the ending is more of a whimper than a bang and I was left feeling a little disappointed by it. 

Overall, while I liked the ending of the first book and the fact that it left the story open for more, I think it works better as a standalone. This concluding chapter just doesn't inspire the same feels. It's s good read, but I never found myself desperate to get back to it, or even that bothered if I got to pick it up.

First and foremost, this IS NOT a book about Anne Frank. She isn't even mentioned. Not once. This book tells the story of Gerard Kremer Sr, who was a caretaker at a building across the way from 263 Prinsengracht. Now, in and of itself, his story is another one of those fascinating tales of bravery and selflessness that deserves to be told - a normal man who takes extraordinary chances to aid the Dutch resistance and Jews in hiding during WW2. This is the only reason I haven't just given this book a 1 star rating. He, like so many others, deserves recognition and I find it incredibly sad that his own son wouldn't think to advertise the book as him standing up and proudly declaring that this is his father's story.

Yes, there is a proposal in here as to who may have been the person to betray the occupants of the Secret Annexe. But it is not central to the story by any means. The office building and Annexe are mentioned in passing a couple of times, but no-one in Kremer's story has any direct relationship or contact with Anne or the other occupants, or even truly knows they exist. The deeply cynical part of me believes that invoking Anne's name is something of a marketing ploy to sell more copies, which I find deeply annoying and disrespectful.

Unfortunately, there's not much to redeem the book either. The writing comes across like a pre-teen's creative writing assignment; while it gets the point across, the phrasing is stilted and simplistic, with lots of repetition and childish descriptions. Now, this can be forgiven if the author wrote the book in English despite the fact that it's not his first language, although of this is the case I do wonder where on earth the proof-reader and editor was on the day the manuscript was turned in. Alternatively, if what I was listening to was an English translation from a Dutch original, I'm guessing it's an almost literal translation and, again, perhaps those who worked on the book behind the scenes could have used a bit of a prod to make significant improvements. 

It almost comes across as being a book for children, but at the same time I genuinely can't tell who this book is aimed at. There are moments that seem to call for strong language where the exclamations are watered down and the flow of the text has the feel of a book you'd sit and read aloud to or with a child who's starting to learn about WW2. But then in other sections the swearing does come out and suddenly it's not a book for young children at all!

It's written in a 'fact as fiction' style - the events described are all true, but it's written in a the form of a novel. I can see why it was done in this way - it's a personal story and, while it would probably only merit a page or two in a non-fiction tome, by presenting it as a story so many more little details can be included to flesh out the people involved and give you insights into their thoughts and feelings. The writing does severely let it down, but you do get that personal touch of a son honouring his father within the pages. 

I was also not a huge fan of the narration on this. The narrator was very clear and had a good voice to listen to, but there were odd pauses throughout, it didn't sound to me like he had a good grasp on pronunciation of Dutch and German words (he could say them, but was very much an English person trying to wrap his tongue round them rather than projecting confidence like a native), and overall it just didn't work for me. 

Personally, I would retitle the book and rework the narrative to make sure that Gerard's story is the one readers are thinking about, rather than have them effectively skimming the book until they find the (non-existent) mention of Anne. 

Interesting, but very disappointing.

The last of the Never After series available on the Audible Plus catalogue until the end of this week, and it's definitely a case of saving the best until last. 

The narrators of this were spot on for the characters, and they were both engaging and easy to listen to. They suited the characters they were playing, and neither made any major changes when giving voices to other characters - it's certainly less 'acted' than the others in the series, and as a result works so much better. The male performance has also vastly increased my liking of Julian as a character - he may now be my favourite leading man of the series!

They also brought the story to life very well. I was able to more readily engage with the storyline and get more out out of it than I was from my initial read (although I admit that might be down to the fact I had read all of the books in very quick succession, whereas the audios force you to slow your pace). I am pretty confident that this audio will allow me to enjoy the physical book more the next time I pick it up, which I don't necessarily think is the case with the others in the series. 

I also like the fact that this one has the extended epilogue included - the rest don't (but fortunately I have the ebook versions of them).

Out of all four books I've listened to from the series, this is the audio I'd buy without hesitation. Definitely deserves an increased rating from the first read!

Again, please see my previous review of this book for full thoughts, but I'm currently listening to the audio versions as they're about to disappear from the Audible Plus catalogue.

Thus far, this book has had the best narrators of the series. Both voices finally match the characters perfectly, and their inflections and changes in tone to give voice to other characters are all strong enough to stand out, but not so over the top that they ruin the mood. I'd STILL like to see them voice the lines of their character in their opposing chapters; I just think it makes sense! But the performances were good enough in this one that I wasn't as bothered.

The audio does make the story feel slower in pace than the physical read, and overall it does seem like there is less action (but there is plenty of 'action' 😉) in this one, so there are moments where it is easy to zone out. But then, that's good when you're using the books to relax! And it's definitely an easy listen.

I guess I'm not as drawn to this one as the 'good boy/bad girl' dynamic isn't my favourite (I prefer the other way around). But still, the characterisation is good and I like the way it doesn't feel too stereotypical or trope-y, while still playing off of those things.

One more to go (Crossed isn't on the freebie list, sadly...)!

I reviewed this book last year, but have listened to the audiobook as it's about to drop off of the Audible Plus catalogue. My thoughts on the story haven't changed; while I don't think it's the best written of the series, overall I think Tristan and Sara are my favourite pair from the Never After world.

However, the narrators were all wrong for the characters in my opinion. The biggest issue for me is that Tristan's narrator has a voice that sounds far too old for the character! When paired with the youthful, saccharine sweet voice of Sara's narrator, this alone detracts greatly from his character. It made it really hard to imagine him as a devastatingly handsome 26 year old dark Prince and kept giving me big age gap, overbearing letch vibes. Sara's voice is probably a bit closer to my expectations, but it felt like it was missing the core of steel that the character has - she almost has the opposite problem of sounding too young. There was also a lot of gasping for breath between sentences, which got on my nerves after a while.

As a whole, it does do a good job at bringing the story to life, and in some respects I think it probably does a better job than the paperback at conveying the build up. But it does also highlight some of the flaws in the writing (I didn't realise the amount of times a character 'tsks' until I listened to this!) which you probably don't notice as prominently when reading a physical copy.

I read this series of books last year (and reviews were posted at the time), but recently found the first four were available as audiobooks as part of my Audible subscription. However, they're being removed in a couple of weeks, so I want to try and get them listened to before then! 

The audio version definitely adds a level to the story in bringing it to life, especially where you have a male narrator reading James' chapters and a female narrator reading Wendy's chapters. However, I still cannot understand why you would hire two narrators for that purpose, and then not have them speak the appropriate lines in the other person's chapter (I.e. have the male read James' speech within Wendy's chapters and vice versa). They don't do badly at putting on the opposite voices, but it just grates on my nerves!

I was less convinced by the voices/accents employed for the secondary characters - the male narrator had an especially tough job given that he's a Brit and most of the secondary characters Americans. I couldn't tell you whether the accent was right for the setting (Brit here), but it was quite harsh and didn't necessarily suit the narrators' natural tone of voice. But equally they managed to bring each character to life throughout with different voices for each and, for the most part, they didn't wander too much. 

There were a couple of places where I felt the narrators could have 'acted' a bit more to get the point across, but generally it was a very enjoyable listen.