Wyatt's Updates en-US Tue, 09 Apr 2024 08:56:44 -0700 60 Wyatt's Updates 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg Review6400193886 Tue, 09 Apr 2024 08:56:44 -0700 <![CDATA[Wyatt added 'The Tainted Cup']]> /review/show/6400193886 The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett Wyatt gave 3 stars to The Tainted Cup (Shadow of the Leviathan, #1) by Robert Jackson Bennett
]]> ReadStatus7800361977 Tue, 09 Apr 2024 08:56:28 -0700 <![CDATA[Wyatt is currently reading 'Cascade Failure']]> /review/show/6415002407 Cascade Failure by L.M. Sagas Wyatt is currently reading Cascade Failure by L.M. Sagas
]]> Review6400193886 Tue, 09 Apr 2024 08:56:26 -0700 <![CDATA[Wyatt added 'The Tainted Cup']]> /review/show/6400193886 The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett Wyatt gave 3 stars to The Tainted Cup (Shadow of the Leviathan, #1) by Robert Jackson Bennett
]]> GiveawayRequest571364880 Mon, 08 Apr 2024 09:23:34 -0700 <![CDATA[<a href="/user/show/161718381-wyatt-parks">Wyatt Parks</a> entered a giveaway]]> /giveaway/show/382254-the-ministry-of-time The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley ]]> ReadStatus7779580194 Wed, 03 Apr 2024 17:30:02 -0700 <![CDATA[Wyatt is currently reading 'The Tainted Cup']]> /review/show/6400193886 The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett Wyatt is currently reading The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett
]]> Review6390077719 Wed, 03 Apr 2024 17:23:02 -0700 <![CDATA[Wyatt added 'Bad Animals']]> /review/show/6390077719 Bad Animals by Sarah Braunstein Wyatt gave 4 stars to Bad Animals (Hardcover) by Sarah Braunstein
bookshelves: fiction
I really enjoyed this book. It read so well. The author chooses words very well; there weren't any unnecessarily big or overly-complex words that some authors use arbitrarily that constantly take you out of the narrative. It was smooth reading. Braunstein really mastered the voice of the character. I really felt like I was inside her mind. She also captures so well the small, subtle thoughts our minds have in our interactions with others.

Very well written, a complex character you don't know if you want to root for. Very enjoyable to read. Highly recommend! ]]> AuthorFollowing100819731 Sun, 31 Mar 2024 13:04:43 -0700 <![CDATA[<AuthorFollowing id=100819731 user_id=161718381 author_id=7106498>]]> Review6378949135 Sun, 31 Mar 2024 13:02:32 -0700 <![CDATA[Wyatt added 'A Marvellous Light']]> /review/show/6378949135 A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske Wyatt gave 5 stars to A Marvellous Light (The Last Binding, #1) by Freya Marske
bookshelves: fiction, fantasy
As long as you're okay with graphic sex scenes, I can't recommend this book enough! Marske does an admirable job of capturing the experience of gay men, something distinctly lacking in the fantasy genre.

The story itself is crafted so well. Impressive worldbuilding, and not a single wasted scene in the entire book. I am really looking forward to reading the second! ]]> ReadStatus7757382901 Fri, 29 Mar 2024 08:17:29 -0700 <![CDATA[Wyatt wants to read 'All the Hidden Paths']]> /review/show/6384155230 All the Hidden Paths by Foz Meadows Wyatt wants to read All the Hidden Paths by Foz Meadows
]]> Review5279812295 Wed, 27 Mar 2024 09:13:57 -0700 <![CDATA[Wyatt added 'Fairy Tale']]> /review/show/5279812295 Fairy Tale by Stephen King Wyatt gave 2 stars to Fairy Tale (Hardcover) by Stephen King
I really did a complete 180 on this book from the first 300 pages to the second 300. The first half of the book I loved. It was really a joy to read. Nothing was really happening, but it was written so well and so in the character's voice that I didn't mind that at all. He still made it a pleasure to read all that exposition. But I'm thinking, okay surely now that we're getting into the second half of the book, the real plot and tension will start now. But it just... never did?

**SPOILER ALERT**

This was my first Stephen King book. I knew it was not his usual horror, but I expected as a horror author that there would be some real tension and conflict in this book, especially after we get into the Other World, but there just wasn't. It seemed like Charlie just figured everything out pretty quickly and just got through all the obstacles pretty much unscathed. Even when he gets thrown into the gladiator tournament, as his friends are all outside murdering each other for the amusement of the elite, he's kind of just chillin inside. No real mental anguish, nothing.

I also have to comment on the unoriginality of the themes in this book. There's nothing wrong with an unoriginal story. All art is unoriginal to some degree. But like, really? We're doing Prince that was Promised garbage? In 2023? King takes what could have been an unoriginal yet compelling story and basically turns it into a White Savior story, in which the only person that can ever save the people of Empis is some random teenager from outside of the world. The people of Empis are essentially helpless to save themselves, and Charlie is the only one who can help them.

This book plays into all of the worst fantasy tropes about royalty, "noble blood," etc. There's one family that has ruled the kingdom for literally thousands of years, and according to one character "most" of them ruled well. And the only people who are immune from the gray sickness are those with royal blood. I do understand that he's trying to show that Charlie is literally living a Fairy Tale and things are unbelievable, but for me I'm just not buying it.

This book started as one of those that you just can't put down, for which you genuinely look forward to your next reading session. Unfortunately, it ended as an excruciating slog to the finish line. ]]>