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4.17 AVERAGE
4.17 AVERAGE
Introduction:
As the icy winds of HowlStrom caressed my fur, I, Kiba Snowpaw, the Alpha Ice Wolf with a soul forged in the eternal winters and a heart as wild as the northern lights, settled into my lair. The silence of the icy realm was broken only by the crackling fire, a stark contrast to the frozen world outside. In this solitude, amidst the dance of flames and ice, I delved into the world of "Ships and Stings and Wedding Rings" by Jodi Taylor, an audiobook that promised a journey through time, a dance with danger, and a waltz with whimsy.
Basic Plot Summary:
In the heart of St Mary’s, Christmas was not just a festival but a harbinger of chaos, of jumps through time that were as illegal as they were thrilling. Max, our intrepid protagonist, with the spirit of a warrior and the grace of a dancer, found herself embroiled in a mission as dangerous as it was urgent. A gun, a modern anomaly, was lost in Ancient Egypt, threatening to unravel the threads of time. Amidst the scorching heat of Egypt, far from the icy embrace of HowlStrom, Max and her companions raced against time, battling the elements and their own follies.
Analysis/Evaluation:
Jodi Taylor weaves a tale as intricate as the frosty patterns on the windows of my icy abode. The narrative is a dance of words, where humor pirouettes gracefully with suspense, and wit waltzes with danger. Every character, every twist of fate, is as unpredictable as the blizzards of HowlStrom, rendering predictions as futile as a flame in a snowstorm.
Characters:
Max, as enigmatic as the northern lights, led the charge with a spirit untamed and a courage unbridled. Markham, a warrior of a different kind, wielded humor as his weapon, carving laughter in the midst of danger. Each character was a unique snowflake in the blizzard of narrative, distinct, unpredictable, and essential to the storm of the story.
Structure:
The tale unfolded with the elegance of the first snowfall, each chapter a new flake adding depth, beauty, and complexity to the landscape of the narrative. The structure was as fluid as the icy rivers of HowlStrom, meandering through time, characters, and events with the grace of the northern winds.
Impact:
In the icy silence of my world, the echoes of Max’s adventures resonated, a testament to the power of Taylor’s narrative. It was a reminder that amidst the icy solitude, the warmth of a well-spun tale could ignite fires of adventure, laughter, and intrigue.
Hook and Thesis:
As an Alpha Ice Wolf, my soul resonates with the wild, the untamed, and the unpredictable. Taylor’s tale was a symphony of these elements, a narrative that howled with the wild winds of adventure, the icy touch of danger, and the warm embrace of humor.
Praise and Critique:
In the dance of words, Taylor was a masterful choreographer. However, every dance has its missteps. While the narrative was as engaging as the aurora borealis, the brevity of the tale left a hunger, an insatiable appetite for more. Yet, in this brevity, there was a concentration of wit, a distillation of adventure, rendering each word, each sentence, a potent potion of narrative ecstasy.
Evaluation:
In the icy realms of HowlStrom, where the winters are eternal and the nights, a canvas of celestial artistry, "Ships and Stings and Wedding Rings" ignited a fire, a warmth that defied the icy embrace, a narrative that howled with the wild winds of adventure.
Comparison:
In the world of litRPG, where every word is a portal to new realms, Taylor’s tale stood as a monument, not of grandeur, but of elegance, not of complexity, but of depth. It was a narrative not of epic battles, but of intimate skirmishes, not of world-altering events, but of moments that defined, refined, and transcended time.
Conclusion:
As Kiba Snowpaw, the Alpha Ice Wolf of HowlStrom, I have ventured through blizzards and basked under the aurora borealis. Yet, in the pages of Taylor’s tale, I found a world where the icy touch of danger met the warm embrace of humor, where the silent dance of snowflakes echoed with the laughter and cries of characters as wild, as untamed, and as enigmatic as the icy realms of HowlStrom. In the eternal winters of my world, "Ships and Stings and Wedding Rings" was not just a tale, but a fire, a warmth that defied the icy embrace, a narrative that howled with the wild winds of adventure, echoing in the silent nights of HowlStrom, a testament to the eternal dance of words, worlds, and wonders.
As the icy winds of HowlStrom caressed my fur, I, Kiba Snowpaw, the Alpha Ice Wolf with a soul forged in the eternal winters and a heart as wild as the northern lights, settled into my lair. The silence of the icy realm was broken only by the crackling fire, a stark contrast to the frozen world outside. In this solitude, amidst the dance of flames and ice, I delved into the world of "Ships and Stings and Wedding Rings" by Jodi Taylor, an audiobook that promised a journey through time, a dance with danger, and a waltz with whimsy.
Basic Plot Summary:
In the heart of St Mary’s, Christmas was not just a festival but a harbinger of chaos, of jumps through time that were as illegal as they were thrilling. Max, our intrepid protagonist, with the spirit of a warrior and the grace of a dancer, found herself embroiled in a mission as dangerous as it was urgent. A gun, a modern anomaly, was lost in Ancient Egypt, threatening to unravel the threads of time. Amidst the scorching heat of Egypt, far from the icy embrace of HowlStrom, Max and her companions raced against time, battling the elements and their own follies.
Analysis/Evaluation:
Jodi Taylor weaves a tale as intricate as the frosty patterns on the windows of my icy abode. The narrative is a dance of words, where humor pirouettes gracefully with suspense, and wit waltzes with danger. Every character, every twist of fate, is as unpredictable as the blizzards of HowlStrom, rendering predictions as futile as a flame in a snowstorm.
Characters:
Max, as enigmatic as the northern lights, led the charge with a spirit untamed and a courage unbridled. Markham, a warrior of a different kind, wielded humor as his weapon, carving laughter in the midst of danger. Each character was a unique snowflake in the blizzard of narrative, distinct, unpredictable, and essential to the storm of the story.
Structure:
The tale unfolded with the elegance of the first snowfall, each chapter a new flake adding depth, beauty, and complexity to the landscape of the narrative. The structure was as fluid as the icy rivers of HowlStrom, meandering through time, characters, and events with the grace of the northern winds.
Impact:
In the icy silence of my world, the echoes of Max’s adventures resonated, a testament to the power of Taylor’s narrative. It was a reminder that amidst the icy solitude, the warmth of a well-spun tale could ignite fires of adventure, laughter, and intrigue.
Hook and Thesis:
As an Alpha Ice Wolf, my soul resonates with the wild, the untamed, and the unpredictable. Taylor’s tale was a symphony of these elements, a narrative that howled with the wild winds of adventure, the icy touch of danger, and the warm embrace of humor.
Praise and Critique:
In the dance of words, Taylor was a masterful choreographer. However, every dance has its missteps. While the narrative was as engaging as the aurora borealis, the brevity of the tale left a hunger, an insatiable appetite for more. Yet, in this brevity, there was a concentration of wit, a distillation of adventure, rendering each word, each sentence, a potent potion of narrative ecstasy.
Evaluation:
In the icy realms of HowlStrom, where the winters are eternal and the nights, a canvas of celestial artistry, "Ships and Stings and Wedding Rings" ignited a fire, a warmth that defied the icy embrace, a narrative that howled with the wild winds of adventure.
Comparison:
In the world of litRPG, where every word is a portal to new realms, Taylor’s tale stood as a monument, not of grandeur, but of elegance, not of complexity, but of depth. It was a narrative not of epic battles, but of intimate skirmishes, not of world-altering events, but of moments that defined, refined, and transcended time.
Conclusion:
As Kiba Snowpaw, the Alpha Ice Wolf of HowlStrom, I have ventured through blizzards and basked under the aurora borealis. Yet, in the pages of Taylor’s tale, I found a world where the icy touch of danger met the warm embrace of humor, where the silent dance of snowflakes echoed with the laughter and cries of characters as wild, as untamed, and as enigmatic as the icy realms of HowlStrom. In the eternal winters of my world, "Ships and Stings and Wedding Rings" was not just a tale, but a fire, a warmth that defied the icy embrace, a narrative that howled with the wild winds of adventure, echoing in the silent nights of HowlStrom, a testament to the eternal dance of words, worlds, and wonders.
Poor Grey, but hurrah for Max et al, who swoop in (as ever) to save the day!
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Fun short story. Can't get enough of Markham, Peterson and Max.
Quick story about a trip to Egypt to retrieve a lost item.
4 stars
Entertaining as ever. That's all.
My favorite interaction between Max and Leon:
I sniffed, appreciating his efforts to comfort me. "I haven't got over the last one yet. Helen and I watched a short film about childbirth and it was so gruesome, we had to turn it off. She had a stiff drink, I had a cup of tea. And we both swore we'd never have sex again."
"You've had sex with Helen Foster?"
"Not recently."
TL;DR
5.0 —One of the best I've ever read. Will be burned into my brain. Couldn't care less about weaknesses (if any). Would recommend to everyone and their mother.
4.5 —Loved this read. Will remember it fondly. Few weaknesses. Would recommend to anyone.
▌4.0 —Enjoyed this read. Will remember it fondly. Minor weaknesses. Would recommend to fans of the genre.
3.5 —Somewhat enjoyed this read. Might be memorable. Notable weaknesses. Would recommend to fans of the genre.
3.0 —Somewhat enjoyed this read. Not very memorable. Notable weaknesses. Would recommend to people who like similar books.
2.5 —Neutral or Underwhelming read. Not very memorable. Significant weaknesses. Would recommend to people who like similar books.
2.0 —Underwhelming or unenjoyable read. Not very memorable or memorable for the wrong reasons. Significant weaknesses. Might recommend to people who like similar books.
1.5 —Unenjoyable read. Not very memorable or memorable for bad reasons. Major weaknesses. Probably wouldn't recommend.
1.0 —I wish I never wasted minutes of my life on this trash. I would go out of my way to convince others not to read it.
Entertaining as ever. That's all.
My favorite interaction between Max and Leon:
Spoiler
"Mention it to Dr. Foster at your next anti-natal session."I sniffed, appreciating his efforts to comfort me. "I haven't got over the last one yet. Helen and I watched a short film about childbirth and it was so gruesome, we had to turn it off. She had a stiff drink, I had a cup of tea. And we both swore we'd never have sex again."
"You've had sex with Helen Foster?"
"Not recently."
TL;DR
5.0 —One of the best I've ever read. Will be burned into my brain. Couldn't care less about weaknesses (if any). Would recommend to everyone and their mother.
4.5 —Loved this read. Will remember it fondly. Few weaknesses. Would recommend to anyone.
▌4.0 —Enjoyed this read. Will remember it fondly. Minor weaknesses. Would recommend to fans of the genre.
3.5 —Somewhat enjoyed this read. Might be memorable. Notable weaknesses. Would recommend to fans of the genre.
3.0 —Somewhat enjoyed this read. Not very memorable. Notable weaknesses. Would recommend to people who like similar books.
2.5 —Neutral or Underwhelming read. Not very memorable. Significant weaknesses. Would recommend to people who like similar books.
2.0 —Underwhelming or unenjoyable read. Not very memorable or memorable for the wrong reasons. Significant weaknesses. Might recommend to people who like similar books.
1.5 —Unenjoyable read. Not very memorable or memorable for bad reasons. Major weaknesses. Probably wouldn't recommend.
1.0 —I wish I never wasted minutes of my life on this trash. I would go out of my way to convince others not to read it.
lighthearted
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Not much to say, except this was another lovely quick "Christmas adventure" for St. Mary's. I liked it (2 September 2024)
[I've stopped rating books in May 2024]
[I've stopped rating books in May 2024]
I think this may be my favorite of all the short stories I've read thus far. It felt like it gave some important insight into some of the characters. A jump (not initially involving Max) comes back with....a problem. Max and Company set off to right the wrong.
While she probably should have just told Dr. Bairstow what was going on and not gotten involved, as we all know by now, that is NOT Max's style.
Max, Peterson, and Markham set off to Ancient Egypt and shenanigans ensue. I think I may be falling in love with Markham. If he's around, it's bound to be a good time. Screw the Time Police...Markham needs his own series!
Loved this one, and definitely recommend it!
While she probably should have just told Dr. Bairstow what was going on and not gotten involved, as we all know by now, that is NOT Max's style.
Max, Peterson, and Markham set off to Ancient Egypt and shenanigans ensue. I think I may be falling in love with Markham. If he's around, it's bound to be a good time. Screw the Time Police...Markham needs his own series!
Loved this one, and definitely recommend it!