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4.27 AVERAGE
4.27 AVERAGE
i was intrested in this for years, but for some reason didn't pick it up. it's a dnf for now, maybe i'll come back to this book later
Okay I don't like writing reviews but I've got something to say about this book. It's driving me crazy and I need to talk about it.
The setting? Intriguing. I personally love being thrown into a world and slowly learning the history and rules throughout the book rather than slogging through a chapter of exposition, and that's exactly what happens here. The characters? Compelling! You get introduced to a big ensemble and each individual is memorable and despite the fantasy names, it's not easy to confuse them. The writing? Pretty amazing.... usually.
Here's the thing. This book reads like the author had built this world in her head for years, and she had a Tumblr account. She talked about her characters on this Tumblr, and occasionally posted snippets of the work and added in a little meme as a joke. And then forgot to take the memes out.
It is incredibly jarring to read ornate descriptions of bone-encrusted laboratories and grand, eerie prayers and then a character says, "That's what she said." There's a tense conversation happening and then the main character quotes Mean Girls. Excuse me WHAT. And I'm all for anachronism! I loved the concept of this high fantasy world with character speaking like modern day people! But quoting real life memes breaks the fourth wall in a bad way. It's like Tamsyn Muir is reading me a bedtime story and I'm almost asleep and then she elbows me awake so I can see her aggressive winks.
The setting? Intriguing. I personally love being thrown into a world and slowly learning the history and rules throughout the book rather than slogging through a chapter of exposition, and that's exactly what happens here. The characters? Compelling! You get introduced to a big ensemble and each individual is memorable and despite the fantasy names, it's not easy to confuse them. The writing? Pretty amazing.... usually.
Here's the thing. This book reads like the author had built this world in her head for years, and she had a Tumblr account. She talked about her characters on this Tumblr, and occasionally posted snippets of the work and added in a little meme as a joke. And then forgot to take the memes out.
It is incredibly jarring to read ornate descriptions of bone-encrusted laboratories and grand, eerie prayers and then a character says, "That's what she said." There's a tense conversation happening and then the main character quotes Mean Girls. Excuse me WHAT. And I'm all for anachronism! I loved the concept of this high fantasy world with character speaking like modern day people! But quoting real life memes breaks the fourth wall in a bad way. It's like Tamsyn Muir is reading me a bedtime story and I'm almost asleep and then she elbows me awake so I can see her aggressive winks.
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Very confusing book, but it had nice humour and character chemistries.
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I think I need to re-read this because I really don't understand much other than snark, lesbians, fighting, skeletons and necromancer, and maybe some sabotage or assassination or something? I was not expecting the banter to be laugh out loud funny.
I could have done with *slightly* less graphic descriptions of necromancy things and corpses and such. But I suppose that's to be expected. Overall, very funny, very confusing, very worth reading.
I could have done with *slightly* less graphic descriptions of necromancy things and corpses and such. But I suppose that's to be expected. Overall, very funny, very confusing, very worth reading.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book just wasn’t for me. I tried. Maybe at a different time but it did have good plot and writing - I just wasn’t super invested in the characters.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A