Heist novel with dragons! I was intrigued by how the dragons were very much in charge, but also not human in their thoughts. So it wasn't so much as tHeist novel with dragons! I was intrigued by how the dragons were very much in charge, but also not human in their thoughts. So it wasn't so much as they were ruling the humans as keeping their pets in line, which is pretty chilling, if you think about it.
I have to say, though: I super hated the concept of the "garden rings"- everyone over age 16 is wearing rings that indicate not just marital status, but their sexual preferences, and that . . . is no one's business, thanks!
*I am not rating books read for the World Fantasy Awards.*...more
So stressful! Is Charles right? Is the world full of monsters only he and Mr. Miles can see? Or is this all in his head? And what is happening with thSo stressful! Is Charles right? Is the world full of monsters only he and Mr. Miles can see? Or is this all in his head? And what is happening with the new tenants - do they know that Charles can see their real faces? Things like this are really freaky to me, because I'm always so worried that it's all in the main character's head, and there are no dragons or trolls, just someone hiding from reality, or who genuinely can't tell the difference, and there's going to be a big reveal where nothing was magical the character was wrong. I can safely tell you: this was not that! This was VERY different, different from most of the MG I've read lately, and very unique!
*I'm not rating books read for the World Fantasy Award.*...more
Gritty retelling of The Ballad of Mulan, with some little nods to the Disney movie that I quite enjoyed. Also, the audiobook is great, because I do noGritty retelling of The Ballad of Mulan, with some little nods to the Disney movie that I quite enjoyed. Also, the audiobook is great, because I do not speak Mandarin and it was good to hear the names pronounced correctly. (Although the physical book is GORGEOUS, with sprayed edges and look at that cover!)
*I am not rating books read for the World Fantasy Award.*...more
How could a book this long feel so short?! I wanted more, more, more! Everything got finished with great satisfaction, but she could have easily expanHow could a book this long feel so short?! I wanted more, more, more! Everything got finished with great satisfaction, but she could have easily expanded it into a trilogy! ...more
A glorious finale, with the stories of all our dear friends finished. For now, anyway.
I mean, this can't be the last one, can it? I know Tad said it A glorious finale, with the stories of all our dear friends finished. For now, anyway.
I mean, this can't be the last one, can it? I know Tad said it was . . . but really? Would he do that to us?
I've been on this journey for over thirty years. I was obsessed with the original trilogy, Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, in high school. And my twenties. I wrote papers about them. The world building! The characterization! The religions of Osten Ard!
The screams I screamed when the new series was announced! And the prequel novels! Stars and hearts shot out of my eyes! And they continued to shoot out of my eyes as I read these newer books, which are just as good, if not better (I'm at an age where I appreciate mature heroes with aches and pains and gray hairs)!
And now I must lie down and slowly get used to the idea that I've read The Navigator's Children, and I'll never be able to read it for the first time again. ...more
Delightfully odd! A whole collection of stories about a family who always have "interesting" things happen to them: like having their baby turned intoDelightfully odd! A whole collection of stories about a family who always have "interesting" things happen to them: like having their baby turned into an elephant, finding a unicorn in the back garden, or getting literally stuck in a tree, along with several cats, the postman, and a door-to-door salesman. Witches and alchemists causing mayhem in their village is par for the course, as is their friends, a family of people no more than eight inches high. I wasn't sure if my kids were enjoying these stories. (they're so much my jam), then one day my daughter said, "It's just soothing to listen to these funny little stories." ...more
Extremely clever mix of fantasy and science fiction that had me hooked from the get-go. All the characters are my precious babies, but especially LunaExtremely clever mix of fantasy and science fiction that had me hooked from the get-go. All the characters are my precious babies, but especially Lunar, but ESPECIALLY Dread. I was on my daily walkies (who said only dogs get to go walkies?) when I read the ending and I actually stopped dead in front of a neighbor's house, who probably thinks I had some kind of episode. ...more
A gorgeous book full of miraculous creatures. I'm also such a sucker for a beautifully designed book! This one had maps and a bestiary, illustrations A gorgeous book full of miraculous creatures. I'm also such a sucker for a beautifully designed book! This one had maps and a bestiary, illustrations throughout, sprayed edges, gold leaf! Obviously I was a goner for it when I saw the cover! It wasn't the best read aloud, mostly because it takes us a while to get through a book, due to Life Getting In the Way, so there are a lot of characters and creatures to keep track of, but it was otherwise excellent. Also: dragons....more
Like The Last Unicorn, a book that seems at first to be a whimsical jaunt through a stereotypical fantasy kingdom (a beautiful princess withGlorious.
Like The Last Unicorn, a book that seems at first to be a whimsical jaunt through a stereotypical fantasy kingdom (a beautiful princess with her suitors lined up in a waiting room! cute little tiny dragons that have to be exterminated by a kind-hearted peasant boy!). And then . . . and then there's more. So much more. What makes a prince noble? What makes a princess desirable? What is your place in the world when you hardly understand yourself? What do we owe our parents, and what do we owe ourselves, when the life laid out for us doesn't fit?
I hope they make an unintentionally horrifying animated film of this book! I bet the main song will really slap! ...more
This is a very fun new magical adventure for middle grade readers featuring a wonderful cast of characters both human and otherwise. There are familiaThis is a very fun new magical adventure for middle grade readers featuring a wonderful cast of characters both human and otherwise. There are familiar creatures like dragons and unicorns, and unfamiliar ones like trigers and a Leaping (teleporting) Lemur, plus a ton of action and a very solid mystery at its heart. I loved the worldbuilding: both Majestica itself and the hints of the larger world around it. I hope there's more books!...more
Of the boxed set of Dragonriders of Pern books that I got for Christmas when I was in high school, this one was solidly my favorite. So sad! So good! Of the boxed set of Dragonriders of Pern books that I got for Christmas when I was in high school, this one was solidly my favorite. So sad! So good! Also, the descriptions of her gowns, and everyone's clothes, were really rich in this one and to this day I can remember them all!
(The boxed set, which I still have, contained Moreta, Dragonflight, Dragonquest, and the White Dragon.)...more
If you, like me, are a Novik fan, there is much to celebrate here! Not the least of which: a retelling of Price & Prejudice with Captain Elizabeth BenIf you, like me, are a Novik fan, there is much to celebrate here! Not the least of which: a retelling of Price & Prejudice with Captain Elizabeth Bennet's Longwing, Wollstonecraft, absolutely stealing the show!
*I am not rating books read for the World Fantasy Award.*...more
If "Santa Claus fighting Surtr on Jupiter's moon, Titan," isn't a phrase that gets you going, this is not the book for you.
I just have to point out thIf "Santa Claus fighting Surtr on Jupiter's moon, Titan," isn't a phrase that gets you going, this is not the book for you.
I just have to point out that clowns are sometimes scary, like Pennywise, sure. But snowmen and scarecrows are WAY more terrifying than the average clown! If a clown started talking to you, you'd be like, "Hey, a clown! Can I have a balloon animal?" If a half melted snowman started talking to you, you would wet yourself, and don't try to claim otherwise! ...more
You simply cannot understand the effect Figment has had on my entire life. My stuffed Figment that I got when I was four years old is sitting on a sheYou simply cannot understand the effect Figment has had on my entire life. My stuffed Figment that I got when I was four years old is sitting on a shelf five feet away from met as I write this. He was the first in my dragon collection, the one little spark that started everything for me. The book is a charmer, a peek into the original ride with Dreamfinder, Figment, and their airship!...more
Gillen did it. He brought it all together, and it worked beautifully. There were surprises, there were non-surprises of things that needed to happen, Gillen did it. He brought it all together, and it worked beautifully. There were surprises, there were non-surprises of things that needed to happen, there were fighting dragons. It was glorious, and strange, and gross, too. I'm a little bereft that there will be no more, but at the same time I'm glad this didn't drag out until I got (more) confused by who was who and what they were doing and it all just sort of whimpered to a halt. No, here it goes out strong, with a bang! With a tear! With a little laugh! With . . . romance? And much feminine badassery! ...more
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