So I actually read this entire series in the last two months, and while I added all 5 volumes to my read shelf I didn’t want iActual Rating: 3.5 Stars
So I actually read this entire series in the last two months, and while I added all 5 volumes to my read shelf I didn’t want it to count as 5 books toward any of my reading goal for this year seeing as they are all rather short graphic novels. So, I’ve added my thoughts and a date to only this final installment in the series.
This is a cute romance with a fun main cast of characters & a really beautiful art style. I think, however, it would’ve appealed to me a bit more back when I was in middle school. It falls into the same category as Furuba & Nana so if you’re a fan of those manga this one will probably be a great pick for you!...more
Predictably, I read this because everyone has been so crazy about the release of the new film. Ah, Mary, Mary when will you learn?
So by now I’m sure ePredictably, I read this because everyone has been so crazy about the release of the new film. Ah, Mary, Mary when will you learn?
So by now I’m sure everyone knows what this is about but just in case, this is story revolves around Lara Jean, who writes letters to her past crushes as a way to vent her feelings & get over them, and is forced to deal with the consequences when those private letters are mailed out by accident.
That description is slightly misleading in my opinion. While there are 5 boys on Lara Jean’s list, this story is mostly about how she navigates her situation with 2 of them specifically.
So really, you should know that the premise is closer to a love triangle than the summary would have you believe.
And then the fact that one of the boys in this triangle was/is involved with Lara Jean’s older sister kind of squicks me out a little. (This is revealed almost immediately in the book so, no I don’t consider it a spoiler.)
So, I’d say my major complaint about this book is that, while it definitely fulfills the role of “cute rom-com,� I’m personally not a huge fan of a story in any genre where the main conflicts are driven by a nonsensical lack of communication between characters.
I guess at this point it just feels? Cheap? Like a fast way to create drama where there would otherwise be none?
This is pretty much the case for all the central characters involved. If any of them would just? I dunno, talk to one another, then most of this drama could be resolved immediately.
Lara Jean’s personality (or lack thereof) is grating at times, and I noted down a couple of times where she resorted to physical retaliation when upset. I think it is meant to be endearing but needless to say, it isn’t.
Lara Jean’s little sister, Kitty, is particularly annoying for me. She frequently acts like a brat, throwing tantrums, refusing to speak to her sisters, bossing others around, with little to no intervention from their father.
None of the other characters stand out in a meaningful way. They all occupy tropes we’ve seen before. The story follows a mostly predictable path with what I consider an unnecessarily open ending.
I know this is a trilogy but I can’t imagine it needs to be. Another 50 pages would have resolved this in a way that was plenty satisfying. But instead we’re left without much of a conclusion.
Needless to say I won’t be continuing on with this series, but I did watch the Netflix Original Movie adaption of this book and it is SO CUTE AND FIXED ALMOST EVERYTHING I DID NOT LIKE ABOUT THIS BOOK!
Do yourself a favor, skip the book, go watch the movie, it’s way faster & a much better experience!...more
Rebecca is generally considered a Gothic Romance/Mystery novel, but I think it’d be an injustice to the story not to acknowledge its Horror & SuspenseRebecca is generally considered a Gothic Romance/Mystery novel, but I think it’d be an injustice to the story not to acknowledge its Horror & Suspense characteristics as well.
I originally became interested in Rebecca because I noticed its place on the Great American Reads list. Though I have no intentions of reading every entry on that list, I’ve lately been taken by the idea of crossing off a few of the heavy hitters.
Then it came to my attention that this novel was adapted into a film by Alfred Hitchcock in 1940. That gave me the notion that maybe there was darker side to this story than I originally believed, and boy was I right about that!
It’s important not to give too much away here, but for those who don’t know, this story begins with a nameless young woman who dives headfirst into a romance with a rich widower. Upon arriving at his estate, it becomes startling clear to our main character that the spirit of her new husband’s late wife still thrives around every corner.
There is such a gorgeous quality to Daphne du Maurier’s descriptions. Whether it be a delectable meal served on a veranda in Monte Carlo or a walk through the flowering gardens of Manderley, I felt completely absorbed in the details of each scene.
Dialogue tends to be an area in which I am particularly judgemental because I feel as though it’s easy for a character’s words to sound scripted & unrealistic. Thankfully du Maurier’s skill as a writer prevails here as well. Characters, both main & background, fit in smoothly with a relevance that keeps everyone feeling equally pertinent to the story’s progression.
With my attention firmly locked in place, it was natural for me to get caught up in all the drama & tension & terror this novel has to offer.
The fact that our main character is only ever identified or acknowledged as “Mrs. de Winter,� her married name, is rather a stroke of genius in a tale where identity plays such a big role. It really adds to the agonizing sense of dread that builds throughout, while also provoking lots of ”what if this were me?� thoughts.
Again, without giving too much away (about myself this time) I’ll just say that I have been in a situation before where a previous relationship is an ever-present black cloud over a present relationship. I have felt jealous & angry, overcome with pettiness, desperate to be the only person that ever mattered, & disappointed when I realized that was an unhealthy goal for any relationship.
In short, I have felt myself spinning completely out of control for the sake of another person.Maybe for this reason, I feel as though Mrs. de Winter is totally relatable. Like I could seamlessly slip into her shoes without even trying.
Most of us know how awful it feels when that sickly bloom of doubt takes root in your gut, the struggle of fighting tooth & nail against your own better judgement. This story exemplifies those horrific human experiences, packaging them up in a deceivingly lovely, atmospheric novel.
At times, it’s almost heartbreaking to watch this story unfold. But it’s equally exciting & distressing with clever twists & turns that keep even the most attentive readers guessing until the end. I’ll definitely be checking out more of Daphne du Maurier’s work after this gem!...more
Out of the three Tensorate novellas I have read, this one is definitely my favorite.
The set up of this novel is a bit different from the first two, exOut of the three Tensorate novellas I have read, this one is definitely my favorite.
The set up of this novel is a bit different from the first two, expounding on the monster hunting story line established in The Red Threads of Fortune. This one, however, is set up mostly in the form of letters/transcriptions of diaries/official reports.
I feel as though this mode of storytelling is particularly well suited to Yang's writing style.
In the past two books, I've struggled a bit with feeling as though certain scenes moved by in such rapid succession that I began to lose my sense of why things were taking place. It's as though I'm seeing the storyboard of the main scenes, but the connection between them is fuzzy or nonexistent.
Consolidating these scenes into letters/written accounts by the characters gave this novella a more natural flow & complimented the theme of this particular installment. There were still a couple of places that felt out of sync to me, but generally I was much happier with the construction & pacing of The Descent of Monsters.
I also felt myself much more personally involved in the story Yang chose to tell here. It presents a tighter focus on explaining the corruption of the Tensorate, which is something I've been hoping for a more thorough elaboration on since foreshadowing in the opening of The Black Tides of Heaven.
I enjoyed the new characters introduced here, and enjoyed seeing old characters make reappearances. It can be difficult to introduce new characters in a meaningful way this late into a series, but I think Yang pulls it off with style & proficiency.
And of course I can't review this title without mentioning how much I love the discussion of LGBT+ identities. In particular it's nice to see such a normalization of correct pronoun usage, even amongst enemies. Of course some enemies make no attempt, but that's a realistic portrayal of the issue. Seeing as the author is nonbinary, I think they've done a wonderful job integrating it into such a short series.
So far the series has been a handful of hits & a handful of misses for me, but I very much enjoyed this installment & I am excited for To Ascend to Godhood!
While I didn’t originally intend to read this for BookTube-a-Thon 2018, it fits one of my challenges & I happened to read the whole thing on day one so I’m counting it!
Challenge: Read a book with green on the cover!
and other reviews of mine can be found on !
***I received a copy of The Descent of Monsters in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Tor.com and J.Y. Yang for this opportunity.***
Hm. Tough one to rate because in a handful of ways I liked this better than the first installment! But something about the conActual Rating: 3.5 Stars
Hm. Tough one to rate because in a handful of ways I liked this better than the first installment! But something about the connection between the two feels disjointed? It’s somewhat hard to explain.
Anyhow, this is still a creative & enjoyable series so far! ...more
Well this was a nifty little novella! I have really enjoyed what little African-inspired fantasy I’ve read. I think I maybe thActual Rating: 3.5 Stars
Well this was a nifty little novella! I have really enjoyed what little African-inspired fantasy I’ve read. I think I maybe there was enough unique material here for a longer story, as I would’ve liked a bit more to sink my teeth into, but definitely good for what it is!...more
Mary ~Ravager of Tomes~
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Books:
year-2018
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