thistle_and_verse's Reviews (299)

This book is about a curse and various supernatural forces using Earthly agents trying to fulfill or block this curse. I had some issues with the pacing initially, but after maybe the first 10 -20% of the book, it picked up. I really liked how discoveries about why things happened were layered throughout the book, so I was still having realizations at the end of the novel. The characters were all very flawed and felt very real. I really liked the details around the baka and vodou. I don't know if I was scared by the book, but it was creepy, and I liked the historical discussions it included.

I sometimes have issues with short story collections because the brevity makes me feel like I don't understand the world or the characters. I didn't have that problem with this collection. All the stories were solid and worth reading. Due's style is enjoyable to read, and her imagery is vivid.

I can see why there's already talks of making this into a movie. The first chapter felt like something that would translate well. I remember reviewers comparing this to Harry Potter, but I think the world stands on its own. If I had to compare it to another pop culture franchise, I'd say Avatar the Last airbender. There are some fantasy tropes, and the plot is kind of typical for YA fantasy, but it was a fun read. I loved the descriptions of the dream scape and the magical system. I enjoyed Amari's and Zelie's character arcs (and Inan's *angel emoji*), and I thought the character interactions were engaging.

I really liked Amber's character and the relationship between her and Teray. This series shows the confrontation between the telepathic Patternists and the spreading Clayarks. The mutes (regular humans) are a nonfactor. I read the other books in the series, and I thought that the Patternists already had a good story about them and that the Clayarks were neglected, so I felt it was a missed opportunity that they weren't a bigger topic of conversation in this book. They were a threat to the Patternists but not as much as they could have been, and the idea of Patternists being infected by Clayarks didn't seem to be explored at all. A good book nonetheless.

Livewire clashes with the teachers at the Academy and tries to counter her negative image. Great fights and emotionally engaging.

Livewire has a fight scene, and there is a betrayal (bit predictable imo, but I think it will take the story down an interesting path). Still a lot of mystery around PSEP. What is their deal?

Wild Seed is my favorite of the Patternist series, but this is a close 2nd. I thought the Pattern was a really interesting idea and liked the questions it raised about community, free will, and 'at what cost.' The conflict between Doro and Mary is great and had a surprising and satisfying resolution. Butler has a talent for making characters that I don't like but still find compelling. I don't think I cared for many of the characters in this book, but I got their motivations and was invested in what happened to them.

Not my favorite of Butler's work but a good quick read. I thought the mechanic of the parasite was inventive. It was an idea that stuck with me for a while. Also the questions the novel raises of free will and humanity gave me food for thought. A lot of Butler's work deals with how communities are built and new futures for humanity that may not be human, and that shows up here as well. I think Keira and Rane were my favorite characters, but they were all interesting.

I read this as an adult, but it's something I think I would have understood and enjoyed when I was young enough to be the target audience. Loved the protagonist and empathized with her and felt protective of her. The dynamic between her and her love interest was bittersweet and poignantly written, as was her relationships with her family. Was a little confused by the ending and the reveal about what happened to the mother and the tie-in to the spirits that Caroline could see but overall, recommend.

I enjoyed the story. Even though it got cut off, it gives you the one arc of Aneka and Ayo's story and ends in a decent place. The biggest part that gets cut off is the Nigandan storyline, which looked promising, and I liked the little that we got in this volume. I enjoyed the romance and found it compelling. Afua Richardson's covers are gorgeous.