savage_book_review's Reviews (328)

Percy and Annabeth are finally reunited, and the quest to save Olympus from the wrath of Gaia and bring together the Greek and Roman demigods begins... 

It hit me as I was reading this that a big reason that I'm enjoying this series more than 'Percy Jackson' is that the books flow into one another  with one continuous story arc. It was one of my bugbears with PJ that it felt so choppy and hard to get back into the world at the beginning of each book; it was like each book was trying and failing to be a standalone. But with Heroes of Olympus, there's no such worry - this one picks up as the last book ends and, once again, you're immediately thrown into the action.

Something else that works in this that usually bugs me is the shifting perspectives. With seven stories to tell, this should just be a complete tangle and lead to utter confusion. But actually the author has got it spot on! You know and care about whose perspective the narrative is being told from, and somehow he manages to work it so that each shift feels natural and easy. Nor does it feel like each separate plot line is placed on hold in turn when a new character comes to the fore. 

The one thing I'm struggling to get my head around is the ages of the characters. Percy is just 16! And yet he, Annabeth, Jason and the others (some of whom are younger than that) are all written with such maturity. Even someone like Leo, with all his madcap ideas, comes across as much wiser than his years. I definitely get the Percy/Annabeth 'ship now, but when I read about them I just can't help imagining them in their mid-20s.

I do love the continued weaving in of various Greek myths to create extra heroes and villains for the piece. In this one I particularly liked Echo (hoping she makes another appearance!) and Arachne. The fact that the concept hasn't stopped bearing fruit yet us a testament to the author's skills as a writer; it's so clever how he maintains the vast majority of the myths intact, but manipulates them to work for him as part of the story.

Now I just need to find a paperback version for my bookshelf!

As the strapline says, Percy Jackson is back! It has taken me 8 months to pick up this book after reading the last instalment, simply because I was worried that his return would be a letdown. However, I'm very pleased to report my fears were totally unfounded! 

The story feels pacy, punchy and much more like a 'proper' novel when compared to Percy's previous adventures. It seems to me to have a much wider range of readership - it's definitely something you can still share with the kids who love the series, but equally it doesn't feel odd reading it as an adult. 

It also feels like the author is now truly comfortable with his characters and setting, and is able to manipulate the direction of the story with ease. One of the plot points is that Percy has lost his memories of Camp Half-Blood and has effectively lost 8 months of his life. But rather than taking the time to explain what Percy can remember (as I suspect he would have done if this had been an earlier novel), you are dropped straight into the thick of the action, and it pretty much doesn't stop. The important information does come though, but it's weaved in as part of the storyline and you find yourself so wrapped up in the plot that, actually, the gaps in your understanding just don't matter, until you suddenly realise they aren't gaps anymore! 

The introduction of the Roman cohort is very well done, and I love the two new main characters and their relationship. I've been strung along with the idea of Percy/Annabeth for so long, it's nice to actually see a relationship between characters in Hazel and Frank that echoes more along the lines of what I'd been expecting from them from the outset! I'm just really hoping I actually get some payoff in the next book for Percy/Annabeth, otherwise I may just need to write off that 'ship as not being for me. Also loving the slimy Octavius; can't wait to see which way his character turns as the series progresses!

Overall, this is the book I've been waiting for since I started reading PJ, and it's definitely inspiring me to head straight for the next book in the series!

After the death of Henry VIII, his daughter Elizabeth found a home with her last stepmother, Catherine Parr and her fourth husband, Thomas Seymour. Except Thomas seems to have taken more than a step-fatherly interest in the young Princess. This book examines the events surrounding their 'relationship', the rumours and myths that sprang up around it and the impact on Thomas, Elizabeth and those that surrounded them.

From the title, I had expected this to be quite a narrowly focused book, with everything contained therein being centred upon this relationship. While that is the case in a broad sense, it reads more to me like a more wide angled narrative of Thomas Seymour's life, from his clandestine marriage to Catherine Parr through to his death. It's therefore not as detailed or as concentrated as I'd hoped. Indeed, once again the only detailed illustrations of Seymour's inappropriate behaviour that are provided are his slipping into Elizabeth's bedchamber before she is dressed, and the infamous cutting up of her dress. While I know these are the most famous and best evidenced examples, I was expecting more of a deep dive into other events, the effect on their relationships with Catherine Parr etc. 

The author does take the time to dissect the rumour that Elizabeth became pregnant by Thomas Seymour and the possibility of there being truth behind it. Again, I find this idea fascinating, especially given the possibility that she could have had a boy who could have continued the Tudor line (if we ignore the illegitimacy issue). However, in her examination the author goes off on something of a tangent, explaining that the same story attributed to Elizabeth is repeated almost verbatim in several other cases down the centuries. My understanding of the author's point is that it is unlikely that the original story can actually be about Elizabeth in any event, but I found this section very difficult to follow and it just seemed to dismiss it with very little discourse about the characters she herself is writing about! Again, the focus seemed to waiver here.

The author does do a very good job at keeping modern sensitivities and judgements from colouring the narrative. Today, Seymour's actions and that of Catherine Parr, Kate Ashley and others in positions of power and with a duty of care for Elizabeth would be considered abusive and abhorrent, and quite rightly so! But by making the events themselves, rather than the intent behind them, central to the narrative, it does feel like we get a more balanced piece of work and a straight retelling of 'facts' rather than an emotional history. 

That being said, can we infer Elizabeth's emotions through her actions? The fact that she would try to be up and dressed before Seymour showed up in the morning, or would try to hide herself if she wasn't ready; her shock at his turning up 'bare-legged' and so on... doesn't exactly scream of someone who's a willing participant, does it? It's these insights that I like best about the writing. Other examples include Kate Ashley seemingly being half in love with Thomas herself, and pushing Elizabeth towards him so she could perhaps live vicariously through her charge, Catherine Parr being 'delirious' on her deathbed (or was she?) and tearing her husband a new one for his ill treatment of her and so on. It's very cleverly written so that you as the reader can make your own deductions about the thoughts and feelings of those involved without the author ascribing anything explicit.

After Catherine Parr's death, the focus does shift more fully onto Thomas and his disagreements with his brother, his plotting to marry Elizabeth and his eventual arrest and imprisonment. While this is of course important to the overall story, it again means that the focus is far from where you expect it to be, and I'd say that very little of this section of the book actually directly relates to their relationship. I didn't really pick this up to learn about Seymour's attempts at piracy or his counterfeit coin operation, so I did very quickly lose interest. His arrest, Elizabeth's interrogation and his execution are all wrapped up quite succinctly, and by that point you're grateful as it does just read like a general history. 

One other small bugbear; while I get that quoting your sources and using them to make your case is important, in this book it feels like there are so many quotes from primary sources it actually makes the narrative quite difficult to digest, given how much is in the flowery language of Tudor communications.

While the author makes a very good closing point that Seymour is the person who came closest to marrying the Virgin Queen, which does leave the reader with a lingering thought, overall I feel like this book missed the brief that the title alludes to.

I picked this up from my Kindle while I was out and about doing other things, just to fill the time. Somehow, despite my loving books such as 'The Diary of Anne Frank' since childhood, I've never read this one until now. 

This is a beautifully written, semi-autobiographical account of the author's flight from Germany as the Nazi Party rose to power in the early 1930s. Its simple prose makes this a wonderful book for children to read alone or have read to them, but it's equally layered and complex enough to appeal to an older audience too. 

Told from the young Anna's perspective, it has quite a similar feel to 'The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas' - you can recognise the tension and deteriorating circumstances and the danger of being a Jew in the wrong place at that time, but through the innocence of a child's eyes. It's the big wide world intruding on their small reality and their taking it in their stride; children who refuse to play with her, the silenced outburst as they cross the border, and of course her 'loss' of pink rabbit. Anna's insistence that she won't be a famous writer because she hasn't had a 'difficult childhood' and her acceptance and even enjoyment, of being considered a refugee tugs at the heartstrings, and really hits home when you consider that this does reflect the author's actual experience.

I don't know where I got the idea from, but I would have always sworn that the story of pink rabbit was that he was left on a train and that the premise was pink rabbit finding its way back to Anna as she moves through war torn Europe to escape the threat. This isn't the case, so I was actually a bit thrown to start with. I know it's a bit silly, but I was definitely expecting something more along the lines of an adventure story! But actually, the reality is better.

I was a little surprised at the suddenness of the ending, but I had never realised this was the first part of a trilogy and so I'm definitely going to add the next two to my TBR list. It almost seems a shame that the whole story wasn't told in one chunkier novel, but I'll take what I can!

The grand finale of the 'Throne of Glass' series, this almost 1,000 page tome promises the deepening of bonds, the severing of others and the climax of a seemingly unwinnable battle. The question of who will live and who will die are on the reader's mind from the outset, and by this point you are so invested in the series that it feels like you're right there in the thick of things with the characters.

Having made it through the previous books, you will now be familiar with all of the characters and their backgrounds, unless you have a terrible memory and have to rely on the library delivering the books to you, like me. In which case, there are a LOT of different story threads you now have to follow, each of them vital to the plot in their own way. For the vast majority of the book, the perspective shifts between at least four different spheres of action, and each chapter takes you to a different thread. Given how short the author's chapters generally are, you would be forgiven for getting into a spin trying to keep everything straight! It's not hard to do, but to me it does make the book feel rather choppy - I'm not sure if another tandem read situation followed by a smaller finale book when everyone comes together might have been a better way to go. That way, you could have the choice of taking it all in in one go, or choosing to focus on one or two threads at a time.

I do think a lot of my opinions rest on the fact that I haven't been able to binge-read this series (see library comment above); I'm hoping that I will get more out of it when I finally get around to buying the series and reading it straight through. But right now, I feel like I should be more affected by the Valg, Maeve and the other darker aspects of this book than I am. I can't say I've ever found the Valg part of the storyline that straightforward to follow, but now I'm at the end I found their ultimate story arc to be quite lacklustre. Likewise, I didn't see the need to add another layer to the 'Wicked Queen' storyline; I actually found Maeve worse when she was supposed to be just Fae! Ultimately, although there are dark moments, Aelin's fire shines too brightly to give them any real depth or impact for me.

SJM is a queen of worldbuilding; she has an amazing ability to paint vivid and ridiculously detailed images with her words. While in broad terms this series is no exception, by the time I reached 'Kingdom of Ash' a part of me was thinking that she's almost gone into too much detail, which means I now have a less clear picture in my mind because I've got too much to consider.

I've come to love all of the main characters and their personalities; some are so easy to picture (I'm sorry, but I can only see Tom Hiddleston with his 'Loki' attitude playing Lorcan!) Their personal journeys are so well thought out and executed, it really is a pleasure to watch them mature and adapt. However, in this book it was really only the fate of the various romantic entanglements that gave me any sort of visceral reaction; the need for the right people to end up together became more important to me than the outcome of the war. I feel like a significant shock was needed to properly tear out your heart, but nothing ever really materialised. There is character death, yes, but for once in my life I am slightly disappointed that there wasn't more... I don't want any of them to die, but I just think the story was crying our for it to turn it from good to great. It's also in dire need of an epilogue!!! I need a 'One Year Later' (or similar) update!!!

The series overall is very enjoyable and a great read, but ultimately it does feel like the dress rehearsal for ACOTAR, which I do still prefer. But I'm hopeful we haven't heard the last of Aelin, Rowan and their Court... keeping everything crossed!!!

My first ever tandem read, and what a way to start! But it does mean I have to review both this and 'Tower of Dawn' together. I can see why people recommend the tandem read though; while there is no direct interaction between the characters, some of the events in one are referenced in the other. If you were reading them separately, I think it would sort of spoil things, especially if you read them in the 'wrong' order.

I particularly like that these stories start to pull together the threads that have been weaving away since the prequel without it feeling contrived or forced. The only trouble is, it does require you to have a fairly good memory of the earlier books - not great when you're borrowing them from the library and are having to wait weeks between each one. I'm definitely going to have to reread these as a job lot as and when I actually get around to buying them!

I enjoyed the continuing development of the relationship between Aelin and Rowan, and as usual the author doesn't disappointed when resolving the UST! But at the same time I hope she keeps the heat in their relationship, especially given the ending! 

On the other hand, I'm finding myself to be disappointed in Chaol. From the romantic hero he appeared to be at the outset, he now seems to come across as quite changeable and not as 'deep' a person as I had expected. His change in this story seems very rushed and I just can't be comfortable with the ending. But I guess we'll see what happens in the finale! Very hopeful it'll prove me wrong and change my mind!

There are a lot of moving parts in this now, but I think the author managed to juggle them all really well; even with the introduction of a multitude of new characters, it was very easy to follow the trajectory of each person's individual story and how they all intertwined. But equally there are a few nice twists and turns in here which keep the momentum and the engagement high. 

Thank goodness the library has delivered the last in ther series today, so I can jump straight in! Looking forward to it!!

My first ever tandem read, and what a way to start! But it does mean I have to review both this and 'Empire of Storms' together. I can see why people recommend the tandem read though; while there is no direct interaction between the characters, some of the events in one are referenced in the other. If you were reading them separately, I think it would sort of spoil things, especially if you read them in the 'wrong' order.

I particularly like that these stories start to pull together the threads that have been weaving away since the prequel without it feeling contrived or forced. The only trouble is, it does require you to have a fairly good memory of the earlier books - not great when you're borrowing them from the library and are having to wait weeks between each one. I'm definitely going to have to reread these as a job lot as and when I actually get around to buying them!

I enjoyed the continuing development of the relationship between Aelin and Rowan, and as usual the author doesn't disappointed when resolving the UST! But at the same time I hope she keeps the heat in their relationship, especially given the ending! 

On the other hand, I'm finding myself to be disappointed in Chaol. From the romantic hero he appeared to be at the outset, he now seems to come across as quite changeable and not as 'deep' a person as I had expected. His change in this story seems very rushed and I just can't be comfortable with the ending. But I guess we'll see what happens in the finale! Very hopeful it'll prove me wrong and change my mind!

There are a lot of moving parts in this now, but I think the author managed to juggle them all really well; even with the introduction of a multitude of new characters, it was very easy to follow the trajectory of each person's individual story and how they all intertwined. But equally there are a few nice twists and turns in here which keep the momentum and the engagement high. 

Thank goodness the library has delivered the last in ther series today, so I can jump straight in! Looking forward to it!!

Arthur's run off with a shepherdess, Merlin's a young hottie and the Once and Future King is now... a 21st Century American? Oh, and a girl too? With a vague knowledge of the Arthurian legends, a deep dislike of Guenivere and Lancelot and knowledge of the future, Britt Arthurs must sit on the throne of Camelot and unite the country in the ways of honour, chivalry and respect in order to face down threats from both within and without.

This was lighthearted, funny, a bit tongue-in-cheek and very well done. Each of the seven books is relatively short, making it a really easy reading experience; even if you do occasionally go 'WTF?!', it's such a joy you just go with it! 

For the purists out there, this actually does quite well at keeping a large number of the characters you would recognise in play (I definitely remember reading most of the names in 'The Once and Future King') and respecting the lore. But as you'd expect, the main plot point adds some inevitable twists and turns. While much of the outcome is predictable, it is a great pleasure to watch the author's imagination get you there and the payoff at the end is lovely.

It also feels like it would make a good foil to the BBC TV series 'Merlin'. While the storylines do differ, to me they have that same underlying comedic lightness that mean they compliment each other really well. Indeed, I have to assume the author was a fan, if only because there's a little inside joke early on that only someone who knows that show would get! And inevitably when she says 'young, hot Merlin', Colin Morgan is definitely who you picture! 

From a British reader's perspective, as soon as was able to frame my mind to get over the 'American-ness' of the writing (which happened very quickly), I could sink into the book, accept the anachronistic language as part of the main character's vocabulary and just enjoy the ride. It sounds like it should be awful, but it's brilliant!

I can't say the writing is sophisticated or that it's the best written book on the planet, and nor can I say that it's particularly deep or complex. But for pure escapist enjoyment, this gets a top rating without a doubt.

Weirdly, I first read about the Vestals Virgins, their place in Roman society and the punishment inflicted on them should they forget their vows in one of my favourite children's books! So when I saw this book and the promise that it would tell me such a story in a more mature fashion (while hopefully not giving me nightmares for a month!), I had to pick it up. And the first chapter set me up with exactly what I'd hoped for - something more detailed, but not drawn out or gratuitous. 

The story then moves on to follow the life of the Priestess Pomponia, one of the Vestals who it seems might be harbouring some impure thoughts. The book takes place over a 20 year period, from the day she graduates from novice to Priestess, to the last day of her 30 years' service, following her as she comes into contact with the highest echelons of Roman society and beyond. 

The author has done a great job at weaving fact and fiction together; many well known real characters play sizeable roles, and yet their appearance doesn't feel forced or fake. Despite most chapters starting with a substantial time jump (usually about a year) and perhaps feeling a little disconnected from each other, the story does flow well and isn't hard to follow. I'd also say that the author has clearly spent a great deal of time studying the geography of the period - without going into minute description, she still manages to successfully transport you into the heart of Ancient Rome and immerse you in your surroundings.

However, the story itself is a bit of a let down. You expect fireworks, but all you really get is a damp squib. The author builds up expectation on a few different plot lines from the get go, only to not follow through to a satisfying conclusion for the reader on any of them. On a couple of occasions I was turning a page expecting to have reached 'the good bit' or a particular pay off, and it just never happened. The frustrating thing is that the author has done a really good job at making the characters relatable and connecting you with them emotionally, so for there to be no real climax is beyond disappointing. I'd argue that even the blurb on this book is a bit misleading, which just adds to the frustration.

I did enjoy reading this, but I just needed more!

I did my individual assignment for A Level history on the Suffragette movement about 15 years ago, and I admire Emmeline Pankhurst more than I can say. Plus, it fits nicely with the latest choice for my book club; autobiography! So I thought it was about time I actually gave it a proper read after having it on my Kindle for a very long time.

This isn't a full biography of the author's life, but rather a justification of the actions of her organisation, a propaganda tool for the cause and a treatise on the the necessity of awarding women the vote. Her husband is mentioned a few brief times (they got married, he assisted with the cause, he died), and while her daughters Christabel and Sylvia are referred to, more often than not if you didn't know they were related you would believe they were just other members of the organisation. That bring said, the background of the author's life is touched upon throughout, illustrating how her formative years and her work as a Poor Law Guardian and registrar of births and deaths shaped and solidified her views. 

Her strength of character, her absolute conviction on her beliefs and single-minded determination to fight to the bitter end is on full display, as is her absolute exasperation at the various Government officials of the day. She explains as far as she can the various methods the Suffragettes chose to employ to make their voices heard; indeed, the book is split into three sections, with each shaped around the increasing levels of militancy utilised - from the first meeting where Christabel and Annie Kenney are arrested for asking a question, through to arson and wholesale destruction of property. She recites a number of impassioned speeches made by herself and her followers, which really start to hammer home the individuals' rationale for being in the fight, and her words make clearer than ever to me the reasons why they felt that peaceful protest was no longer enough.

I cannot help by compare their actions to those employed by climate protesters and others today. Reading this has made me consider my reactions to such protests; if I can admire the Suffragettes' bravery for utilising these tactics, why do I have a more negative view of these modern day protesters who actually engage in more peaceful, if still 'militant', means of getting their point across? OK, so I could never get behind arson, then or now, but I can respect that, as far as possible, the only lives the women risked were their own. Although the causes are very different, the arguments Emmeline puts across in this book seem to apply just as well in the 21st Century; they tried talking, tried making themselves useful, tried practical steps to engage with Government and nothing worked. The militancy is not about getting to the politicians directly; it's about making the British public reach the point of such frustration with the antics that the Government is left with little choice but to make concessions. And this is why I love books like this; it's allowing me to examine my own thought processes and test my reasoning. 

The narrative is straight talking, straight to the point and sharp as anything; there are no wasted words at all. And yet it's engaging, thought-provoking and easy to digest; an amazing piece of writing. I will say there are times where she talks about the parliamentary procedure and the passage of a Bill through the House of Commons which might leave you a little confused, but it's only important that you understand that the law required doesn't get passed! Helpfully, on a couple of occasions the author recognises that she might be reaching a foreign (American) audience and so she does take the time to give a brief explanation of how things work, what they mean etc. which also serves to clarify for an audience 100 years removed!

This book was published in 1914, shortly after the WSPU had suspended their militant activities to turn their attention to supporting the war effort. So the author remains in the fight. Of course, we as readers know what happens next; the huge loss of life, the women stepping up to keep the country running and, ultimately, the awarding of the franchise. But when you're reading this and can feel the heat of Emmeline's desire for change through the pages, it only reinforces my own belief that I have no choice but to vote in every election I can; it would be an insult to these women, who put their freedom, security, jobs, families, health and lives on the line if I didn't.