thaisasaurusrekt's Reviews (115)

A nice look into Camilla and sextus’ exploits in the Sixth when they were younger. I really liked their dynamic in Gideon, and it was fun to see their brains whir to try and solve the mystery of the most embarrassing named doctor known to man.

What a fun book this was. Engaging sci fi elements taking place in an ancient world that’s just us right now (including electrical toothbrushes) mixed with an interesting necromancy and bone wielding magic system, ancient caste houses and hierarchies worshipping the dead and their different aspects, from life syphoning to reanimating and bone matter generation really pulled me in. But I stayed for the mysterious premise of challenges to be fulfilled, theories to learn and who dunnit murders sprinkled in. 

Despite the graphic descriptions of bones, fat, blood and other bodily fluids I had a fun time with the creative constructs. 

The one weak point for me was the diverse cast of characters, which sounds weird at first, but it was just tough for me to keep up with twenty-two characters, although drawn character charts helped ease that up a little.

The thing that shined the most was the humor, especially the way Gideon spoke and interacted with the world. She and her necromancers relationship was a delight to behold, and its growth from bitter rivals to frenemies to reluctant friends to I’d literally die for you almost like lovers was a wild wholesome ride.

I’m interested in rereading this book given the amount of plot twists and revelations gained during my first read through. I’m sure I’ll understand many other parts sooner or better then.

Looking forward to reading the next book, harrow the ninth, and hopefully finding out more about the fall of the empire in times past, away from Canaan house.  

Could not get into the book, no plot, all character study and tragedy porn. 

Promising premise that didn’t quite deliver to me. It was a slog to get through even tho I did like how the women tried to overthrow the press from within her own court instead of resorting to violence from the outside and the concept of alurea being cool as heck, the writing style just didn’t do it for me. Communication with their dragons, overuse of other language and plot points that fly by and in out of nowhere led to a less then stellar reading experience. 

The book felt like two books somehow mixed together. It started off with the promise of something great and morbid and wild and ended with unfulfilled potential. The middle felt like nothing. 

The the start of the book was promising, and the book from m's pov and him batteling his true nature for the good of the family is really interesting. But then the awfulness of his selfish family who project their dead child onto a new being and force him to live as a human and deny his human nature, constantly saying they accept him and yet making him conform to a society he's not entirely a part of is just cruel and since it's told from their pov it's quite boring.

 

The chracters all say one thing and do another, not very consitent in their characterisation. It's all just not it with this book idk. 

Shifters, snarky vampires, a way too sweet and caring guy and a hurt thinking she's not quite deserving of love girl meet tense interspecies politics, what's not too love. Didn't expect to like this book much but blew through it in a day, what a delightful lil romantasy. 

Paul is depressed, and rightfully so. By going along with the layed out path the bene gesserit planted amongst the fremen on dune the jihad has come to past, and caused destruction all over the galaxy. Paul is the most powerful and at the same time the most powerless man in his own empire with foes plotting to overthrow him. 

More a political game of chess then an action filled battle of the previous book, I thought the moral and philosophical points of religious takeover, governmental ideals and what it is to be human once more was a good addition the the first book, highlighting how Paul was both savior and the downfall of the fremen, bringing water prosperity and poisoning the very way of life and ecology to the fremen and arrakis. 

Paul both dying and forever living on after losing chani, but also leaving Alia with two parts of him and their parents and chani will make for an interesting sequel. I’ll continue reading children of dune to see what happens to this world.

I was hoping for more from this book, but it was a very basic baby’s first warrior siege romance with a hint of interesting reptile enemies but not enough lore or exposition or adventure to make it interesting for me. The two mcs didn’t really feel like they connected at any point either, just not very throrough.

While Babel started out feeling like a gushing on how incredible Oxford and academic culture is, it turned into a heavy look at the truth for people of color displaced and racially used to the benefit of the growth of an empire by utilizing language. The cause for which the characters fight for is a very real and important one even today. every notion of racism, colonialism and politics causing impoverishment on the general populace to benefit the rich and powerful was told in a nuanced way and was incredibly important. I’m glad this book exists, despite the pacing being to slow for me. The magic system with silver match pairs was quite intriguing, and the focus of untranslatable worlds being able to create such an impact on daily life was a nice one to explore. I can relate to many of the experiences the characters go through in the book, from experiencing casual racism and biases to witnessing false translation and feeling a sense of betrayal in your very being whenever you give up cultural secrets and context in another language. But the guilt that comes with enjoying the labors in the colonist country is also a layer that runs deep and adds nuance. How can it be that in the face of oppression that seems so obvious to poc, the colonizers never seem to understand that personal happiness is not a measure for the injustice being done, and that morality and ethics should not be conditional to the benefits you recieve if one dances to the tune of the oppressor. A powerful book, one I hope stands for the past, because despite us having ways to go, I see hope for the future.