I have only read Mistborn and Skyward by Brandon Sanderson before this so I can't say I know anything about his Cosmere universe. I don't even know whI have only read Mistborn and Skyward by Brandon Sanderson before this so I can't say I know anything about his Cosmere universe. I don't even know who Hoid is.
BUT!
I loved this book. The characters were lovable. The narration was so much fun. The seas of spores were so interesting, and the little romance we had was adorable.
So what more can I want from a Princess Bride inspired story?
Brandon Sanderson calls this an adult fairytale but in my opinion it doesn't read like a fairytale and it is more YA than adult.
This might be the only book I loved about pirates. For some reason no one captures the right tone when it comes to pirates. That being said, this reads more like pirates for YA readers. So don't expect this to be a dark pirate read but more of an adventure story that takes place on the sea (that is not actually a sea).
If you like epic fantasy from Sanderson this might not be for you. But if you are looking for a fun, kind of a cozy fantasy, this is a must read....more
I am loving this world and the writing feels cozy to me for some reason. I personally didn't love the romance development here and wanted more from thI am loving this world and the writing feels cozy to me for some reason. I personally didn't love the romance development here and wanted more from the secondary characters but overall I enjoyed it very much....more
If you are looking for a barbarian fantasy romance (that is heavy on the romance) but don't want any of the triggering content, this was pretty straigIf you are looking for a barbarian fantasy romance (that is heavy on the romance) but don't want any of the triggering content, this was pretty straight-forward but a very fun read with great chemistry between the main characters and interesting world-building. I also loved how the main character got mature throughout the book. The romance build-up could have been a bit better but I still enjoyed the couple together. Like I said the plot is straight-forward. If you have read similar books like Warprize, Pathfinder's Way or The Golden Dynasty, you won't be surprised by the way the story progresses. But overall, this was a fun version of an alien barbarian romance and that is my favourite kind of barbarian book....more
How can a main character make every wrong decision ever throughout the whole book? I understand that she is nineteen but she has no sense whatsoe*2.5*
How can a main character make every wrong decision ever throughout the whole book? I understand that she is nineteen but she has no sense whatsoever. She doesn't even care about the price she pays since she gets what she wants at the end anyway.
I loved the historical setting with dragons. A woman scholar going on a different country to research dragons? Sign me up. I blame Emily Wilde for expecting something more from this.
This is written like a memoir which is fun as an idea but in execution it is dreadfully boring. I wanted more dragons, more intrigue and less annoying characters.
I know it is very realistic for a group of privileged people to go to a small town for an expedition and not care about any of the culture or poor people there but wow this made me mad. Disrupting their daily lives is one thing but having the audacity to look down on the people and not even care to get to know their culture and even see them as human beings? I wish the fantasy aspect of the book was having good mannered and kind privileged people as main characters.
Since I did enjoy the setting and one character (poor Jacob... I wish he had someone looking out for him) I still liked this book. But this could have been an easy 5 star book for me if... well, if it was exactly like Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries, I guess....more
This was so cozy and heart-warming. I especially loved Halim, the gentle knight. The way he apologized every time he cursed that his curses became oneThis was so cozy and heart-warming. I especially loved Halim, the gentle knight. The way he apologized every time he cursed that his curses became one with the apologies was so funny and adorable.
The ending is a bit rushed but the epilogue left a smile on my face. I listened to this via audiobook and I personally prefer listening to T.Kingfisher's stories rather than read them. Maybe because they are like fairytales but it feels like someone is reading me a cozy bedtime story....more
Well, this is dissapointing. I was looking forward to this one but unfortunately the second half was a trainwreck.
The first 40% was interesting and daWell, this is dissapointing. I was looking forward to this one but unfortunately the second half was a trainwreck.
The first 40% was interesting and dark in a way it is hard to find in YA fantasy books so I was loving it. Then 40-70% dragged so much that I was contemplating skimming which was shocking to me since I usually adore the descriptions Holly Black writes. And the last part of the book was just a mess of an ending. Everything wrapped up too quickly and none of the transitions felt natural.
I felt like Holly Black was bored by this story halfway through and only wanted to finish it before the deadline. I guess when Jude and Cardan came into the story she realized that she would much prefer writing about them than these main characters which is...fair since I also wanted to read from Jude's POV.
I am not sure if there is going to be more books from Jude's POV but the way things ended here suggests that Holly Black wants to write more for their story.
I love this world with the cunning fae, smart characters and the beautiful writing so I would continue reading the books she might publish in the future. But unfortunately, this book was a huge letdown.
I'm giving this 3 stars because, as I said, I love the world and the characters. I just didn't care about Oak and even though I absolutely loved Wren in the first book, we didn't really see her in this one....more
This was such a surprising letdown for me. I guess my expections were wrong. I was expecting a fantasy romance and what I got was historical fiction wThis was such a surprising letdown for me. I guess my expections were wrong. I was expecting a fantasy romance and what I got was historical fiction with little mythology. I loved Roman but Iris was a hard person to like for me. I couldn't feel their chemistry either.
The ending was interesting but I just wish we had more Roman and less Iris in this book.
Even with that cliffhanger I doubt that I will pick up the next book since I have zero interest in the romance or the plot.
Unfortunately, this was a very mid historical fiction. I would recommend Lovely War instead. At least it had amazing research and better romance....more
So many info dumps for the world building and Soren telling (and proving) he hates witches over and over again. We get it you are going to eat your woSo many info dumps for the world building and Soren telling (and proving) he hates witches over and over again. We get it you are going to eat your words when you find Rooke and I can't wait to see him fall madly in love with a witch....more
It was his bride who would be the legend, Maddek thought. In the ages to come, he would rate but a mere mention in the songs they sang of his warrior-It was his bride who would be the legend, Maddek thought. In the ages to come, he would rate but a mere mention in the songs they sang of his warrior-queen.
For once, I agree with Maddek and that is also the reason why I finished this book. The heroine, Yvenne was the best thing about this book. Maddek was just there for her to complete her vengeance.
It is truly my fault for picking this book up thinking it would be more fantasy than a barbarian romance. I mean there is literally a barbarian on the cover. So obviously I didn't like the barbarian hero, Maddek. I never do like asshole alpha know-it-alls (unless the book is more like a campy romance like Ruby Dixon's books.)
My main problem for not giving this book a higher rating was the writing style. It was too descriptive for my liking, and I didn't even care about the world to begin with. I couldn't help but skim read some of the passages about the world and the politics.
If you like barbarian romance books that is centered on a quest (like a road trip) with a frustrating stupid barbarian hero and a smart but physically weak heroine, pick this up. Their chemistry wasn't bad I just felt bad for the heroine the whole time and I hate it when authors make the heroines suffer way more than any other character in their books. (But this is a personal gripe of mine that I can't get over.)
You are my heart, Yvenne, and my strength--and certainly my brains....more
2.5 "let's make kids watch their parents die then give them dragons to start a revolution" stars
This is for people who don't or rarely read fantasy bo2.5 "let's make kids watch their parents die then give them dragons to start a revolution" stars
This is for people who don't or rarely read fantasy books. It is literally written like a YA contemporary book but there is magic and a few dragons thrown in.
I guess they marketed this as adult because it has a few spicy scenes. But everyone reads like they are teenagers and the writing has that addictive YA feel to it. So if you are going into this book thinking you will get a serious, adult, epic fantasy with dragons... do yourself a favour and do not read this book.
I liked the first half since it reminded me of Divergent, and I found it hilarious how there was no logic or reason to anything that was happening. I was sure this was a YA fantasy parody and it was so much fun to read. I had to suspend my disbelief and I was fine with that. But that last 25% took itself too seriously. The whole book is ridiculous and I am supposed to take everything seriously?
At the start, I was sure Violet was a clone of Bella Swan; loves reading, gets called "fragile" by nearly everyone and faints at the drop of a hat. The characters have no interesting depth or development. What was even Violet's disability? Did I skip the part where she talked about what her illness actually is?
The fact that her mother, the general, doesn't want her to be a scribe because she doesn't think highly of scribes was so funny to me. Her husband was a scribe??? Why was she literally trash talking her dead husband ???
My biggest problem was the world building. And I am someone who doesn't really care about world building too much. I just want it to make sense within itself. I don't think that's too much to ask while reading a fantasy book. I just want to ask which genius thought to give the rebels' kids dragons. I just want to talk.
I don't expect Rebecca Yarros to know anything about real-life war, revolutions or rebellions but WHY would anyone conscript the rebels' kids as punishment??? Why would you give the necessary tools for another rebellion to happen??? Why would you train and give them DRAGONS of all things???? The only reasoning we have here is that they thought MOST of them would die during training. BUT WHAT IF THEY DON'T? I was waiting throughout the whole book to see how they were going to get revenge on the government. They would have deserved it for being so stupid.
Also, why would you ever make training so hard that you kill nearly half of your soldiers??? Who thought that was a good training technique??? If they can't be riders just make them plain soldiers you don't have to kill them??? How is this kingdom still alive I have no clue.
Even though the romance had literally the same arc as Shatter Me series (or maybe because of it) I liked the chemistry between the main characters. I just wanted more relationship development. This needed a slow burn romance.
I thought the ending would be at least interesting since everyone was talking about the "shocking reveal" at the end but it was so obvious from the first chapter that I thought something else was going to happen.
I still thought it was funny (i hope it was meant to be funny), fast paced and it had good chemistry between the main characters so I'm giving this a middle of the road, 2.5 stars. But it was very lacking as a fantasy romance. We didn't even have enough dragon scenes.
P.s Please read Divergent if you haven't.
P.p.s Can chocolate cake be a favourite food? Or wouldn't that be considered favourite dessert?
Some of my "lmao what is happening" moments:
“Your mother captured my father and oversaw his execution.� Wait. Like he has the only right to hatred here? Rage races through my veins. “Your father killed my older brother. Seems like we’re even.� “H.� (you are literally even what logic is this???)
"Every Sorrengail is a rider, don’t you know?" (her dad is crying)
But me? I have to fix it so my kneecap stays where it’s supposed to. It’s not just my muscles that are weak. My ligaments that hold my joints together don’t work for shit, either. (what does that even mean???)
(...)which wouldn’t matter as much if I wasn’t as breakable as a porcelain teacup, but here we are. (bella swan if she was a dragon rider)
Their gathering could be completely harmless, right? Maybe they’re homesick (hmmm why would any kid want to get revenge after seeing their parents' execution they are just bonding ofc)...more
I didn't know anything about J. Bree's new series before going into this prequel novella and I am surprised to find out it is about both witches and fI didn't know anything about J. Bree's new series before going into this prequel novella and I am surprised to find out it is about both witches and fae. This was a fast-paced, emotional start to a series I am so excited to read....more
I haven't read the Caraval trilogy but since everyone has been raving about this I had to give it a chance.
Not knowing Jacks's backstory might have beI haven't read the Caraval trilogy but since everyone has been raving about this I had to give it a chance.
Not knowing Jacks's backstory might have been better since I didn't know whether I could trust Jacks or not, and it was so much fun!
This book was very fast paced and interesting. I was scared it would read like a fairytale -since I don't like fairytale-esque books- but it was more fantastical than whimsical in my opinion.
Evangeline is not a naive but a hopeful main character and I couldn't help but love her even though she did make some stupid mistakes.
One thing I found lacking was the secondary characters. I wanted more from Prince Apollo and his brother. That being said, Marisol was a very interesting side character. Her complicated relationship with Evangeline was so fun to read about.
I am looking forward to reading the next book since I am so curious how the romance will play out, and also the mystery is more complex than a typical YA fantasy....more
First of all, I have to say I am not the target audience for this. I rarely like high fantasy and I don't carWesternized chinese history with shamans.
First of all, I have to say I am not the target audience for this. I rarely like high fantasy and I don't care for fantasy that is heavily inspired by real history. Put in the fact that I love romance in my fantasy... I knew going into this that I was out of my comfort zone. BUT I love reading out of my comfort zone and find a new favourite book, and I went into this book with an open mind.
I expected something along the lines of Attack on Titan and what I got was... a westernized look of chinese history with a wattpad level of writing. I loved the ideas here but the execution was very lacking. I was scared of the trigger warnings this book has but since the writing and the characters were lacking the dark atmosphere was not successful.
The characters were all over the place. I knew no one even after reading 500 pages. Rin acted in a certain way in one chapter and acted completely like a different character in another scene. The relationship dynamics were also inconsistent. They were friends in one scene and in the next they were enemies. There was no development or dialogue to make the friendships feel sincere.
I didn't care who lived or died because I felt nothing reading this book except for maybe frustration because there was so much potential but R.F. Kuang does not have the ability to write this story.
2 stars for the potential because I loved the idea of shamans....more
I loved this so much. It was everything I didn't even know I wanted. I always think I am not into fae books then I read something other than SJM and II loved this so much. It was everything I didn't even know I wanted. I always think I am not into fae books then I read something other than SJM and I realize I am into fae books, I am just not into SJM books.
This had everything I loved; cozy fantasy with rich world building, a grumpy scholar, her possibly fae nemesis colleague and their amazing banter. It was literally written for me.
I didn't believe it when people compared this to Howl's Moving Castle but somehow I get it. Not the plot but the main characters reminded me of Sophie and Howl.
I can never write a proper review when I love a book too much and that is the case here. Just pick this up....more
I really thought this would be an easy 4 or 5 stars for me. I loved the cute scenes Mercy and Hart had together, and a weird fantasy romance with You'I really thought this would be an easy 4 or 5 stars for me. I loved the cute scenes Mercy and Hart had together, and a weird fantasy romance with You've Got Mail vibes sounded interesting but the execution was sorely lacking.
There are a few scenes here that are word for word same with You've Got Mail and the relationship development is not nearly as good here. The movie's perfect enemies to friends to lovers transition is done haphazardly. Their feelings changed depending on where the author wanted to move the plot so none of it felt natural. Even the characters were inconsistent. I had the hardest time understanding Mercy's character. Her character didn't develop in a way I understood. Was there even a character development? I have no idea.
The world building was also very lacking which is not something I care too much about when it comes to weird cozy fantasy but in this one we needed more information. Especially because of the ending. Without giving anything away I can only say that was such a stupid way to "save the world". I am not even going to comment on the cozy mystery elements this book had for about 2 chapters then it was done. Maybe if I cared anything about the side characters, it would have been more fun. Even the humour didn't work for me unfortunately.
I still liked Hart and Mercy, and wanted them to be together at the end. I especially really liked Hart since he is the type of hero that I love to read about in books but everything else was very lacking....more
Why write a fantasy book if all you are going to give me are bar fights and clothes descriptions. I guess SJM started this.
How can you make dnf at 30%
Why write a fantasy book if all you are going to give me are bar fights and clothes descriptions. I guess SJM started this.
How can you make the couple have no chemistry when they can literally hear each other's minds? The possiblities were endless and instead we had these two boring characters with zero chemistry interact with each other....more
Romantasy is really just YA fantasy with more violence and smut, and this makes me so upset. Because I LOVE fantasy romance. I especially love it whenRomantasy is really just YA fantasy with more violence and smut, and this makes me so upset. Because I LOVE fantasy romance. I especially love it when it is fantasy with a romance subplot. But at this point this genre is smut with nonsense worldbuilding that we read as info-dumps.
I hate it when the dialogues are just the MC asking questions back to back. I am fine with learning the world as I go. I don't need the MC asking 1009392 questions to the other characters to learn the history of the world.
Even if this book was ONLY a romance it was just insta-lust. There was no development. Even the banter was mid. I don't know what happened here. Did she write this book with the outtakes of the From Blood and Ash series??
-some spoilers ahead-
I was actually intrigued by the place Lis was living at first. She was an orphan and she was trying to survive her whole life so when she finds a place for herself in this rich Baron's life she does everything she is supposed to do to not go back to her days on the streets.
She has strong intuition and she can see the future in some ways so she uses her powers to keep her place next to the Baron. But the people who live there are basically slaves to their own desires. The Baron gives lavish parties every night and there are no exclusive relationships (at least we didn't see any)
Lis is basically a slave here but she doesn't even realise it. When Grady (her -kind of- sibling) talks about a revolution happening she refuses to even listen to him because they are finally safe.
The hero and Lis become infatuated pretty early on in the story so after awhile he asks the Baron's permission to have Lis for himself. Lis is absolutely furious at this since she wants him to ask her. But that doesn't make sense since SHE IS A SLAVE. I am not sure if she refused to see that or she was not supposed to be a slave in the first place??? It made no sense???
At the end of the book, most of the rich people who live here is murdered, and I was supposed to feel bad for them??? WHY? They were literally using taxes to have unnecessary parties every night while the poor were dying of starvation.
So... why was I supposed to feel bad that a bigger bad comes to kill the smaller bad people at the end? I was just confused why Lis couldn't see this.
The only explanation I have is that this is written like a YA book and killing is always bad in YA books.
I am giving this 2 stars just because I liked a few scenes between Lis and Thorne, and the last 15% was fun....more
I can't believe J. Bree literally wrote a 660 paged fantasy book just to say even if men live for a thousand years they never get mature.
First and forI can't believe J. Bree literally wrote a 660 paged fantasy book just to say even if men live for a thousand years they never get mature.
First and foremost let me list all the things I loved about this book: - Rooke. ALL THE STARS FOR THIS SELFLESS, POWERFUL WOMAN. She was so much better than me and never even talked back to those arrogant, ignorant high-fae. How? Because she is mature and knows she is the better person already. The way she was both soft and tough was amazing. - Even though the book is nearly 700 pages long the pacing was amazing and I never wanted to put the book down. - The nature theme. Okay, I'm not a huge nature fan or anything but I loved the way Rooke talked about and took care of the forest, the plants and basically everything alive. - The world was so interesting. Again, I don't generally care about world building but I found the history of witches and faes so interesting.
The things I didn't like: - The Savage Prince. Yes, I am petty and refuse to call him by his name. He literally calls Rooke "it" or "witch" throughout the whole book. He is arrogant, only cares for the high fae (ok so he fed a couple of village people but they don't count since they are literally HIS people), and he is not even qualified enough to be a king. Like this guy was alive for a thousand years and he never bothered to learn anything other than fighting??? He doesn't know the languages spoken in his own kingdom. He is racist to every other race except high-fae in his kingdom. He constantly talks about how much he loves to kill witches. EXCUSE ME??? AM I READING A LOVE STORY ABOUT A GENOCIDER??? J. Bree has to have an amazing character arc for him since right now I don't want Rooke to be with him. - The frustrating storyline of no one believing Rooke even though the only thing she does is to help the arrogant high fae. They are the worst and I want all of them to die... or grovel for 700 pages. Whichever is more convenient. - There could have been more plot. I know this is the set up book but not a lot happens and I wanted more character interactions (like the scene with the Goblin King. I LOVED that scene.)
I am not going to comment on the side characters because we didn't really get to know them in this book. They were just a cause of frustration for me. The cliffhanger wasn't a cliffhanger in my opinion but I am still very excited for the next book.
So first of all, I know Rooke is so nice and selfless but I hope she doesn't forgive any of them as easily as she did the high-fae princess. She literally forgave her because the princess was pregnant??? I am glad we didn't have women-hating-women but she was despicable towards Rooke AND she never apologized or thanked her. Also call me weird but I don't trust women who don't have any female friends.
That last battle scene where Rooke killed the whole army by herself was so badass and I loved it. I love her. Her last speech to the prince was also AMAZING.
“Your people will wither and die, all while you're busy pouting about your fate. When you realize your mistake, you’ll have to beg me for my help, and still, I'll refuse to give it, because you're nothing but a useless, arrogant male. The regent might be drinking and dancing his way to ruin, but you're right alongside him, riding a horse with a sword into the very depths of darkness and taking your whole kingdom with you.�
I HOPE she won't forget her words in the next book. I expect Soren to SUFFER for treating her like shit. (hide spoiler)]...more
I need to read more japanese fiction since I love the soothing writing japanese literature generally has.
This*3.5*
Melancholic, touching and beautiful.
I need to read more japanese fiction since I love the soothing writing japanese literature generally has.
This one was about a world where the Memory Police dissapeared objects... and more. The dissapearences might be small like harmonicas or pretty big like living creatures, birds and roses.
The story is not plot-driven. It was more of a sociological and psychological read.
I loved the first half. The writing is beautiful. The japanese culture and the setting were interesting. But the second half dragged and I found myself skimming a little to finish the book. The ending was perfect for the story and overall I found the book interesting and melancholic in a beautiful way so I'm rounding my rating up to a 4....more
The first one was way better but I liked the first half of this as well. What I hated was the way the love triangle ended. I am not talking about*3.5*
The first one was way better but I liked the first half of this as well. What I hated was the way the love triangle ended. I am not talking about who she chose (because I choose the same guy) but HOW she chose it.
I am still glad I read this duology. It really felt like a chinese legend and not something too western with a hint of eastern culture. I am excited to see what Sue Lynn Tan will write next....more
Loading...
