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bayleyreadsbooks's Reviews (530)
Guysssss. I liked this book. I liked it very much. It does sort of feel like I just read very many books, but when you have SEVENTEEN POV CHARACTERS and 880 (891 if you count the short story) pages.
That set up for The Wicked Powers. The wait for 2022 is going to be killer. Ty and Kit and Dru and Kieran and Clary and Jace and Jace and Alec and Magnus and Ash and Jem and Tessa and Cristina and Emma and the rest of the Blackthorns. That is going to be an epic Shadowhunter Chronicles ending. I cannot wait to be literally 28 and still sad about what's going on with these people. I will probably be a THIRTY YEAR OLD when the last Wicked Powers book comes out.
Back to this book.
I felt the handling of the political climate in the books and in real life was great. I love that it has hope for a better path, that we see the people leading the way through that path, and I also love that it is not easy or achievable with a simple conversation. I read a review saying that this book was grim, and I disagree with that, I think this book looks at complicated issues and tries to handle them in a way that reflects real life around the time it was written. If our heroes had just jumped in and made the cohort and all it represents just go away easily, or if the cohort hadn't been full of the nationalism and prejudice that we see in the world right now, then this book would not have landed as well.
I have long wanted to write something about politics in fantasy books (maybe specifically YA) that I have read, and if I ever did tracking Cassandra Clare's interest in the dismantling of fascism would be a pretty easy place to start. We have seen so many forms of fascism throughout the series that she has written, and her evolution of its ideals is really well done. She shows so many different faces of the same underlying hatred of plurality. If only I could study politics in books. That would be bomb as fuck.
So much happened in this book I don't even know where to start. I cannot summarize this plot, I would need more characters than my fingers are currently up to typing. But I was very impressed by the distinct voices of all the characters in this book. I was able to keep people and their relationships and plot lines straight in my head very easily and that is not always true in a large series with so many characters. And again, 17 POV characters in this book. And I love 15 of them, hate one (as a person, he was important to the narrative), and have no idea how to feel about the last.
I am crazy interested in finishing all Shadowhunter Chronicles books, and The Eldest Curses which is obviously a part of this world but is not a part of the core five? I'm not exactly sure. But I am ready for it all. April 2nd for The Read Scrolls of Magic and November 19th of Chain of Gold.
I have been pulled into this world too deeply and I don't imagine I will be able to exit it before I have read every book.
That set up for The Wicked Powers. The wait for 2022 is going to be killer. Ty and Kit and Dru and Kieran and Clary and Jace and Jace and Alec and Magnus and Ash and Jem and Tessa and Cristina and Emma and the rest of the Blackthorns. That is going to be an epic Shadowhunter Chronicles ending. I cannot wait to be literally 28 and still sad about what's going on with these people. I will probably be a THIRTY YEAR OLD when the last Wicked Powers book comes out.
Back to this book.
I felt the handling of the political climate in the books and in real life was great. I love that it has hope for a better path, that we see the people leading the way through that path, and I also love that it is not easy or achievable with a simple conversation. I read a review saying that this book was grim, and I disagree with that, I think this book looks at complicated issues and tries to handle them in a way that reflects real life around the time it was written. If our heroes had just jumped in and made the cohort and all it represents just go away easily, or if the cohort hadn't been full of the nationalism and prejudice that we see in the world right now, then this book would not have landed as well.
I have long wanted to write something about politics in fantasy books (maybe specifically YA) that I have read, and if I ever did tracking Cassandra Clare's interest in the dismantling of fascism would be a pretty easy place to start. We have seen so many forms of fascism throughout the series that she has written, and her evolution of its ideals is really well done. She shows so many different faces of the same underlying hatred of plurality. If only I could study politics in books. That would be bomb as fuck.
So much happened in this book I don't even know where to start. I cannot summarize this plot, I would need more characters than my fingers are currently up to typing. But I was very impressed by the distinct voices of all the characters in this book. I was able to keep people and their relationships and plot lines straight in my head very easily and that is not always true in a large series with so many characters. And again, 17 POV characters in this book. And I love 15 of them, hate one (as a person, he was important to the narrative), and have no idea how to feel about the last.
I am crazy interested in finishing all Shadowhunter Chronicles books, and The Eldest Curses which is obviously a part of this world but is not a part of the core five? I'm not exactly sure. But I am ready for it all. April 2nd for The Read Scrolls of Magic and November 19th of Chain of Gold.
I have been pulled into this world too deeply and I don't imagine I will be able to exit it before I have read every book.
If this book isn’t in my top three of 2020, it’s because everything I read after this was utterly perfect. I would be shocked if it’s not on my favorites of 2020-2029. Spoiler for the review: I think you need to read this book.
I, like everyone else, have been aware of Jack the Ripper basically forever. I knew he was a serial killer, I knew he had never been caught, I knew he killed prostitutes, and I knew he lived in London. It turns out there isn’t really a basis for one of these claims. I had heard about the Dear Boss Letter, which was probably written by a journalist, I had heard the Jane the Ripper theory, the royal connection theories, the Jewish Butcher theory, the antisemitism that accompanied that theory, and I knew the general area in which the murders happened. But I had not known much about the victims, I probably couldn’t have named any of them, and until a few weeks, before I picked this book up, I didn’t really know exactly how many women were murdered. I just kind of assumed that there wasn’t information available about these women much outside fo their names, professions, and the details of their deaths. This would turn out to be incredibly incorrect.
It turns out that there is much information available about the lives of the five women killed, different facts of their lives have varying levels of certainty, and there is obviously much that cannot be known because it was never recorded, or it was only known by the women themselves. But Hallie Rubenhold presents a little over 400 pages of information largely on the lives of Polly Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddows, and Mary-Jane Kelly.
The book opens by dispelling the notion that Jack the Ripper killed prostitutes. There is no evidence that 3 of the five women were ever prostitutes and no evidence that any except Mary Jane Kelly was currently engaged in the profession. She also slowly, then with a bang in the conclusion, dissects the reason why we present the victims as sex workers and the cultural notions that allow us to not treat sex workers as less worthy of life as other ‘moral’ women.
Each section grounds the reader in what daily life for a middle class or poor person both in London and in whatever other area (or areas) the women lived in throughout their lives. We learn about their families, circumstances, and get a broad overview of how their lived lead to being horribly encased in history. I was completely engrossed in each woman’s story and went through a constant cycle of sort of forgetting the ending that was awaiting each woman, and was just focused on the narrative being presented. The author presents the facts of these women’s lives with context about the time and does not ridicule the choices they make. I particularly loved the context of what life was like for the lower classes of England at the time. It really lends the lives of each of the five women a tremendous amount fo clarity.
I could talk about this book endlessly. I am torn between detailing the lives of each woman and of not ruining the element of discovery each page turn brought me. The only negative to this book is that it is, of course, at times deeply sad. But you know that when you pick up the book. This is the story of five murdered women that have continued to be dehumanized in their deaths. The other sad factor of this book is how many women were in equally tragic and upsetting circumstances as Polly, Annie, Elizabeth, Catherine, and Mary-Jane were in before their deaths. Rubenhold really does a tremendous job extending empathy towards a group of people treated mainly with disdain.
Basically this is a deeply interesting biography of Polly, Annie, Elizabeth, Catherine, and Mary-Jane. If you have even a basic understanding of or interest in, Jack the Ripper, you should also have the lives of the victims in your mind. This is one of my favorite nonfiction books I have read, and I also just think this is an incredibly important book.
Not completely on topic, but this is very much a case where I am deeply in love with the UK cover and am sad for the American audience which has a less great cover. But Americans you are looking for a blue cover with a girl standing on a Victorian street. The cover is bad but the book is good.
Link to blog post
I, like everyone else, have been aware of Jack the Ripper basically forever. I knew he was a serial killer, I knew he had never been caught, I knew he killed prostitutes, and I knew he lived in London. It turns out there isn’t really a basis for one of these claims. I had heard about the Dear Boss Letter, which was probably written by a journalist, I had heard the Jane the Ripper theory, the royal connection theories, the Jewish Butcher theory, the antisemitism that accompanied that theory, and I knew the general area in which the murders happened. But I had not known much about the victims, I probably couldn’t have named any of them, and until a few weeks, before I picked this book up, I didn’t really know exactly how many women were murdered. I just kind of assumed that there wasn’t information available about these women much outside fo their names, professions, and the details of their deaths. This would turn out to be incredibly incorrect.
It turns out that there is much information available about the lives of the five women killed, different facts of their lives have varying levels of certainty, and there is obviously much that cannot be known because it was never recorded, or it was only known by the women themselves. But Hallie Rubenhold presents a little over 400 pages of information largely on the lives of Polly Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddows, and Mary-Jane Kelly.
The book opens by dispelling the notion that Jack the Ripper killed prostitutes. There is no evidence that 3 of the five women were ever prostitutes and no evidence that any except Mary Jane Kelly was currently engaged in the profession. She also slowly, then with a bang in the conclusion, dissects the reason why we present the victims as sex workers and the cultural notions that allow us to not treat sex workers as less worthy of life as other ‘moral’ women.
Each section grounds the reader in what daily life for a middle class or poor person both in London and in whatever other area (or areas) the women lived in throughout their lives. We learn about their families, circumstances, and get a broad overview of how their lived lead to being horribly encased in history. I was completely engrossed in each woman’s story and went through a constant cycle of sort of forgetting the ending that was awaiting each woman, and was just focused on the narrative being presented. The author presents the facts of these women’s lives with context about the time and does not ridicule the choices they make. I particularly loved the context of what life was like for the lower classes of England at the time. It really lends the lives of each of the five women a tremendous amount fo clarity.
I could talk about this book endlessly. I am torn between detailing the lives of each woman and of not ruining the element of discovery each page turn brought me. The only negative to this book is that it is, of course, at times deeply sad. But you know that when you pick up the book. This is the story of five murdered women that have continued to be dehumanized in their deaths. The other sad factor of this book is how many women were in equally tragic and upsetting circumstances as Polly, Annie, Elizabeth, Catherine, and Mary-Jane were in before their deaths. Rubenhold really does a tremendous job extending empathy towards a group of people treated mainly with disdain.
Basically this is a deeply interesting biography of Polly, Annie, Elizabeth, Catherine, and Mary-Jane. If you have even a basic understanding of or interest in, Jack the Ripper, you should also have the lives of the victims in your mind. This is one of my favorite nonfiction books I have read, and I also just think this is an incredibly important book.
Not completely on topic, but this is very much a case where I am deeply in love with the UK cover and am sad for the American audience which has a less great cover. But Americans you are looking for a blue cover with a girl standing on a Victorian street. The cover is bad but the book is good.
Link to blog post
I really wanted to love this book, as I really want to love every book. But I did specifically want to love this one. So much so that I might give it another go in the future.
The book kinda made me feel super dumb in the beginning, then at about 70% when you begin to hit some big plot stuff, I was not invested because I had spent such a long time being slightly confused. Then by the end, I knew I should have emotions, but I didn't. Also, I usually really like dual POV books, but I had tons of trouble remembering who was Red and who was Blue.
I hope you like this book. Maybe future me will as well.
The book kinda made me feel super dumb in the beginning, then at about 70% when you begin to hit some big plot stuff, I was not invested because I had spent such a long time being slightly confused. Then by the end, I knew I should have emotions, but I didn't. Also, I usually really like dual POV books, but I had tons of trouble remembering who was Red and who was Blue.
I hope you like this book. Maybe future me will as well.
April 2020: I will never be able to pick a favorite Harry Potter book, but I realized on this re-read that GoF contains one of my favorite chapters. I really really love Chapter 14 The Unforgivable Curses. It does so much for character and plot and is very emotionally resonant.
October 2019: Book four really does kick ass. Obviously, the massive tone shift takes place in this book, the stakes get higher (a masterclass in expanding the plot while also deepening the personal consequences), and you get teed up for the roller coaster that is Order of the Phoenix (a word I think I have finally learned to spell). I am so ready to read about dementors, PTSD and trauma, terrible people, secret study groups, and heartbreak. My tomorrow must include grad school buckling down, but also I will be starting that book.
Back to book four. This book is so emotional and throws so much information at you. And the storyline is wonderful. I am just always impressed by this series. After all this time. (I still don't like Snape, it is just a good quote) (Also I will never get Draco apologists) (And NEVER get Draco/Hermione shippers. That shit is morally ew. How did we read the same book)
June 2018: Still love re-reading this book. This book is such an exceptional point in the series, though my favorite book in the series tends to be the book I am currently reading. I love the deepening of relationships between the characters as well as the thickening of the plot. Book four, there is 100% no question Rowling is laying Horcrux groundwork. When you know what you are looking for, you see all the clues you would never have put together if you don't know about books 6 & 7. I never know quite what to say in these. I am very, very excited for book five; I do love book five.
April 2017: Reread of this series is amazing. I totally forgot how much I love book four. It's a wonderful blend of the darker themes in the latter three and the slightly more wondrous feeling of the earlier three books. It seems like every book I read; I forget how much I like the book. The other issue that has come up with every book in the backwards re-read is I super want to read OotP right now. But I have to write a 15-page paper. Then read PoA. Which I am, of course, pumped about.
October 2019: Book four really does kick ass. Obviously, the massive tone shift takes place in this book, the stakes get higher (a masterclass in expanding the plot while also deepening the personal consequences), and you get teed up for the roller coaster that is Order of the Phoenix (a word I think I have finally learned to spell). I am so ready to read about dementors, PTSD and trauma, terrible people, secret study groups, and heartbreak. My tomorrow must include grad school buckling down, but also I will be starting that book.
Back to book four. This book is so emotional and throws so much information at you. And the storyline is wonderful. I am just always impressed by this series. After all this time. (I still don't like Snape, it is just a good quote) (Also I will never get Draco apologists) (And NEVER get Draco/Hermione shippers. That shit is morally ew. How did we read the same book)
June 2018: Still love re-reading this book. This book is such an exceptional point in the series, though my favorite book in the series tends to be the book I am currently reading. I love the deepening of relationships between the characters as well as the thickening of the plot. Book four, there is 100% no question Rowling is laying Horcrux groundwork. When you know what you are looking for, you see all the clues you would never have put together if you don't know about books 6 & 7. I never know quite what to say in these. I am very, very excited for book five; I do love book five.
April 2017: Reread of this series is amazing. I totally forgot how much I love book four. It's a wonderful blend of the darker themes in the latter three and the slightly more wondrous feeling of the earlier three books. It seems like every book I read; I forget how much I like the book. The other issue that has come up with every book in the backwards re-read is I super want to read OotP right now. But I have to write a 15-page paper. Then read PoA. Which I am, of course, pumped about.
Aurora Burning picks up right where Aurora Rising leaves us, with our heroes searching for a weapon to defeat the Ra'haam, the evil collective plant being thing trying to take over the universe. Well, it doesn't pick up right there, it picks up with Tyler and Scarlett trying to sell their ship to a pretty hostile furry alien while things are breaking bad for the team. They run into a series of hurdles, including Kal's murderous sister, being universe-wide fugitives, and the group being separated.
I have certainly been in what the internet calls a reading slump for many many months. But Amie Kaufman (and Jay Kristoff obviously but I am more well versed in the Amie side of things) can always pull me in and make me have an excellent time. This book was a mega-fun, dangerous space adventure that, as Amie and Jay are want to do, punches you in the face right at the end.
These books are just fun over the top adventures, and that was exactly what I needed.
Gonna start with the negatives to get that outta the way. Book opinions are always highly subjective (personal pet peeve is when people pretend their opinion on a book is objective truth), but I feel that maybe these opinions are extra subjective. I just am kind of over being told continuously that everyone is supernaturally hot at all times, I get it, they are attractive heroes, we don't have to be reminded every time someone has an outfit change that they are ungodly hot. It weirded me out a little bit throughout the whole book.
I still really love the characters! The only character I didn't really like (spoilers for Aurora Rising) died at the end of the first book, so everyone left I continued to be very excited to be in their head. And I did really like seeing how the events of the last book impacted each of the characters, made me wish I had been sad about Cat.
I am bananas excited that they dove into who Zila is in this book. I wanted so much more Zila in book one, and they super delivered on this. No spoilers, but Zila opening up was well worth the wait.
I wanted Zila's story to be the most compelling to me, but all six of our point of view characters had really solid emotional arcs, everyone had to branch out from the role they played in book one, Amie and Jay really deliver on second books. They certainly go in and turn the world upside down and challenge both their characters and the way the reader perceives the world.
I really loved the juxtaposition of Tyler and Scarlett and Kal and Saedii. It is so heartbreaking to read Kal watching Scarlett being an excellent sibling who deeply cares for her brother while he deals with the giant ball of disfunction that is his family life. Kal is really and truly put through the wringer in this book. Having your face on the cover might not be an enviable position for whoever is on book three.
I particularly loved how the narrative was over and over emphasizing how important connection and trust are. Even though this is not the path everyone is on at all points of the narrative.
This is an Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff book. It is full of twists. You will catch some and feel like a genius while some will thump you over the head. I am not sure which I like better. I went back and skimmed through Aurora Rising before I sat down to write this, and some of the twists were so clearly telegraphed in book one, and my dumb ass just didn't notice at all. I might need to go back and do a book three fact-finding mission reread of the first two soon.
In short, Aurora Burning is just as fun as everything else from these authors has been. It is funny and a tad saccharine at times but all full to the brim of action and danger. I adore every second of the ride and really am looking forward to the last book of the series.
I have certainly been in what the internet calls a reading slump for many many months. But Amie Kaufman (and Jay Kristoff obviously but I am more well versed in the Amie side of things) can always pull me in and make me have an excellent time. This book was a mega-fun, dangerous space adventure that, as Amie and Jay are want to do, punches you in the face right at the end.
These books are just fun over the top adventures, and that was exactly what I needed.
Gonna start with the negatives to get that outta the way. Book opinions are always highly subjective (personal pet peeve is when people pretend their opinion on a book is objective truth), but I feel that maybe these opinions are extra subjective. I just am kind of over being told continuously that everyone is supernaturally hot at all times, I get it, they are attractive heroes, we don't have to be reminded every time someone has an outfit change that they are ungodly hot. It weirded me out a little bit throughout the whole book.
I still really love the characters! The only character I didn't really like (spoilers for Aurora Rising) died at the end of the first book, so everyone left I continued to be very excited to be in their head. And I did really like seeing how the events of the last book impacted each of the characters, made me wish I had been sad about Cat.
I am bananas excited that they dove into who Zila is in this book. I wanted so much more Zila in book one, and they super delivered on this. No spoilers, but Zila opening up was well worth the wait.
I wanted Zila's story to be the most compelling to me, but all six of our point of view characters had really solid emotional arcs, everyone had to branch out from the role they played in book one, Amie and Jay really deliver on second books. They certainly go in and turn the world upside down and challenge both their characters and the way the reader perceives the world.
I really loved the juxtaposition of Tyler and Scarlett and Kal and Saedii. It is so heartbreaking to read Kal watching Scarlett being an excellent sibling who deeply cares for her brother while he deals with the giant ball of disfunction that is his family life. Kal is really and truly put through the wringer in this book. Having your face on the cover might not be an enviable position for whoever is on book three.
I particularly loved how the narrative was over and over emphasizing how important connection and trust are. Even though this is not the path everyone is on at all points of the narrative.
This is an Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff book. It is full of twists. You will catch some and feel like a genius while some will thump you over the head. I am not sure which I like better. I went back and skimmed through Aurora Rising before I sat down to write this, and some of the twists were so clearly telegraphed in book one, and my dumb ass just didn't notice at all. I might need to go back and do a book three fact-finding mission reread of the first two soon.
In short, Aurora Burning is just as fun as everything else from these authors has been. It is funny and a tad saccharine at times but all full to the brim of action and danger. I adore every second of the ride and really am looking forward to the last book of the series.
I liked big chunks of this book and didn't like some things about this book. Will add more to my review soon.
Just found my notes from this book. It’s three years later and I’m not writing a review I’ll just post my thoughts that I am sure are spoilery.
Chapter 1-3
A lot of the ways she uses o explain children's though bother me so much. She isn't great at writing a child. Hoping it gets better.
I too and going to grown up and do whatever I please
6
Not connected to any of the characters yet. I think I should find her funny but it's not much funny.
She is connecting the reasons for her never explicitly making her religious beliefs plain very well.
7
8
Enjoying this chapter.
Until this chapter I think most of my interest has been finding out things I didn't know about these people (cause I don't know much about these people), but it seems that if you know about these people that before this chapter there is no new life breather into these people.
11
My enjoyment has continued.
12
From googling stuff it seems like her portrayal of Elizabeth and Thomas Seymour's relationship is very far on the spectrum of what could have happened. There isn't definitive proof but most people view their relationship as much more sinister. This seems to be a slightly lazy and self serving interpretation. I think it's just here because aside from this there is no romance and a huge chunk of this genre has the "bodice ripper" subgenra haha. But aside from this if you aren't skilled with dialogue (or letters) then there isn't much romantic tension. I think if she had tried that she could have made Romaric tension that was much more interesting with Dudley. Subtle and more evidence based.
13
"English has replaced Latin in court services" *gasp*
I think a more interesting portrayal of Elizabeth would involve her taking more of a side on religion privately but understand the importance of neutrality in her assent to power. Much more interesting.
14
Well I'm glad she didn't make the Seymour relationship positive as it seemed she was. But I'm still not sure she chose the best narrative and she didn't even choose the history she thinks is correct. Which baffles me.
Many conflicted feelings.
Miscarriage- something the author (a historian) herself does not believe happened. Sorta undermines so things she is setting up about Elizabeth. I think her later refusal to marry has a bigger impact without this (which again the author doesn't even believe actually happened). Using this as a kind of explanation seems like a way to get around her poor ability to get into her characters heads and explain things to us. It is providing perhaps the least interesting explanation explanation for why she would not want to marry.
I really feel very strongly that this was a bad choice and that maybe she feels she does not have the talents for a better narrative. Actually the more I read this the more I think that she chose this version of events because she thinks she needs a traumatic reason why someone would not wish to marry. It would have been a much better narrative if she kept it as the head strong and power hungry girl who could have proven quite the fascinating character. To see her flirtation with Dudley that she kept herself away from because she wished to remain wholly powerful or even if it was a weird obsession with virginity. I do feel this was the least interesting narrative and it was picked for shock value and so there could be some notes of romance.
She has many of the hallmarks of historians who cannot make a book engaging. They should all have to write one non historic fiction book to build up the ability to make you care about the character.
16
Annoyed that the idea that Elizabeth dresses modestly as a political assertion (different from the actual assertion) was giver to her by a dude.
But I like this story line much more than I like the other ones.
17
SHE HEAD HOPS! I have been trying to figure out what about the pov changes bothered me and it's the head hopping.
18
I like this plot line. But might it have been better if she had retained ANY of her want of power. A conflict between sisterly affection and want for power. She still could have been uninvolved but it would have been interesting.
But again I do like this part much more.
Only twice in this chapter was a longing for being on the throne. I wish there was more contemplation of the freedom or potential retribution that being on the throne could bring her from these people.
Just found my notes from this book. It’s three years later and I’m not writing a review I’ll just post my thoughts that I am sure are spoilery.
Chapter 1-3
A lot of the ways she uses o explain children's though bother me so much. She isn't great at writing a child. Hoping it gets better.
I too and going to grown up and do whatever I please
6
Not connected to any of the characters yet. I think I should find her funny but it's not much funny.
She is connecting the reasons for her never explicitly making her religious beliefs plain very well.
7
8
Enjoying this chapter.
Until this chapter I think most of my interest has been finding out things I didn't know about these people (cause I don't know much about these people), but it seems that if you know about these people that before this chapter there is no new life breather into these people.
11
My enjoyment has continued.
12
From googling stuff it seems like her portrayal of Elizabeth and Thomas Seymour's relationship is very far on the spectrum of what could have happened. There isn't definitive proof but most people view their relationship as much more sinister. This seems to be a slightly lazy and self serving interpretation. I think it's just here because aside from this there is no romance and a huge chunk of this genre has the "bodice ripper" subgenra haha. But aside from this if you aren't skilled with dialogue (or letters) then there isn't much romantic tension. I think if she had tried that she could have made Romaric tension that was much more interesting with Dudley. Subtle and more evidence based.
13
"English has replaced Latin in court services" *gasp*
I think a more interesting portrayal of Elizabeth would involve her taking more of a side on religion privately but understand the importance of neutrality in her assent to power. Much more interesting.
14
Well I'm glad she didn't make the Seymour relationship positive as it seemed she was. But I'm still not sure she chose the best narrative and she didn't even choose the history she thinks is correct. Which baffles me.
Many conflicted feelings.
Miscarriage- something the author (a historian) herself does not believe happened. Sorta undermines so things she is setting up about Elizabeth. I think her later refusal to marry has a bigger impact without this (which again the author doesn't even believe actually happened). Using this as a kind of explanation seems like a way to get around her poor ability to get into her characters heads and explain things to us. It is providing perhaps the least interesting explanation explanation for why she would not want to marry.
I really feel very strongly that this was a bad choice and that maybe she feels she does not have the talents for a better narrative. Actually the more I read this the more I think that she chose this version of events because she thinks she needs a traumatic reason why someone would not wish to marry. It would have been a much better narrative if she kept it as the head strong and power hungry girl who could have proven quite the fascinating character. To see her flirtation with Dudley that she kept herself away from because she wished to remain wholly powerful or even if it was a weird obsession with virginity. I do feel this was the least interesting narrative and it was picked for shock value and so there could be some notes of romance.
She has many of the hallmarks of historians who cannot make a book engaging. They should all have to write one non historic fiction book to build up the ability to make you care about the character.
16
Annoyed that the idea that Elizabeth dresses modestly as a political assertion (different from the actual assertion) was giver to her by a dude.
But I like this story line much more than I like the other ones.
17
SHE HEAD HOPS! I have been trying to figure out what about the pov changes bothered me and it's the head hopping.
18
I like this plot line. But might it have been better if she had retained ANY of her want of power. A conflict between sisterly affection and want for power. She still could have been uninvolved but it would have been interesting.
But again I do like this part much more.
Only twice in this chapter was a longing for being on the throne. I wish there was more contemplation of the freedom or potential retribution that being on the throne could bring her from these people.
ARC provided by the publisher.
I really really really love this series. It is just really fun. I laughed out loud, far too loudly quite often.
Mrs. Bainbridge and Miss Sparks, fresh from solving a murder in the previous novel, are now tasked with vetting Prince Phillip, who seems to be about to propose to Princess Elizabeth. There is a years-old mystery, lots of blackmail, some crime, crime-adjacent activity, east London gangsters, Greek royalty, and it is full to the brim with hilarity.
I was slightly iffy on the plot being so entangled with real people; this is oft an issue in historical fiction though I did not expect it from this series in reading the first book. But, and without spoiling anything, I think the real people are handled excellently here. I can say no more without spoiling anything.
The plot is fast-paced and well constructed. It is an excellent gentle laying of all the puzzle pieces until the culmination at the end. I will say that this book does do some of the thing where the characters have information about a big reveal and the reader is left in the dark for dramatic effect, this is a very common plot thing that I tend to be bothered by, but it was also well done, and I flew through the reveal so I cannot hold it against the book. I liked the balance of the series-wide story elements with the mystery of this novel in particular. I thought it was excellently done.
I am still massively in love with the characters of this world. Sparks is still an excellent spit-fire of a human, and Gwen is moral and hilarious. My heart continues to belong to Sally, who is an excellent character who I want nothing but happiness for. Every time Sally is even slightly saddened, I am heartbroken for him. I demand happiness for Sally by the end of the series. I really like Spark’s love interest, he is such a fun character, and I am very much looking forward to seeing more of him. I hope he sticks around for the rest of the series.
This is a hilarious, feminist, historical mystery series that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I am committed to staying on this ride until the series ends. Which I hope is never.
Link to review on blog.
I really really really love this series. It is just really fun. I laughed out loud, far too loudly quite often.
So you and Sparks work in the same office, do you?”
“We do.”
“Lucky boss to have a pair of lookers like the two of you coming in every day,” he said. “Wouldn’t mind being in his shoes, I must say.”
“I’m afraid I don’t understand,” said Gwen sweetly. “Which boss would that be?”
“Why, your boss. You know, the fellow you two work for.”
“There is no fellow we work for.”
“Now I’m the one who doesn’t understand,” he said.
“The two of us own the business,” said Gwen. “The two of us run the business. You are now addressing a boss.”
“How very novel,” he said. “I have gone and put my foot in it, haven’t I?”
“Both, I would say.”
“I’ll just slink away and lick my wounds, then,” he said. “Cheers.”
“We have an opening for a secretary if you’re interested in applying,” she called after him. “Do you type?”
He moved as far from her as the crowd and the size of the room would permit.
Mrs. Bainbridge and Miss Sparks, fresh from solving a murder in the previous novel, are now tasked with vetting Prince Phillip, who seems to be about to propose to Princess Elizabeth. There is a years-old mystery, lots of blackmail, some crime, crime-adjacent activity, east London gangsters, Greek royalty, and it is full to the brim with hilarity.
I was slightly iffy on the plot being so entangled with real people; this is oft an issue in historical fiction though I did not expect it from this series in reading the first book. But, and without spoiling anything, I think the real people are handled excellently here. I can say no more without spoiling anything.
The plot is fast-paced and well constructed. It is an excellent gentle laying of all the puzzle pieces until the culmination at the end. I will say that this book does do some of the thing where the characters have information about a big reveal and the reader is left in the dark for dramatic effect, this is a very common plot thing that I tend to be bothered by, but it was also well done, and I flew through the reveal so I cannot hold it against the book. I liked the balance of the series-wide story elements with the mystery of this novel in particular. I thought it was excellently done.
I am still massively in love with the characters of this world. Sparks is still an excellent spit-fire of a human, and Gwen is moral and hilarious. My heart continues to belong to Sally, who is an excellent character who I want nothing but happiness for. Every time Sally is even slightly saddened, I am heartbroken for him. I demand happiness for Sally by the end of the series. I really like Spark’s love interest, he is such a fun character, and I am very much looking forward to seeing more of him. I hope he sticks around for the rest of the series.
This is a hilarious, feminist, historical mystery series that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I am committed to staying on this ride until the series ends. Which I hope is never.
Link to review on blog.
Conventionally Yours is an incredibly fun road-trip romance. It follows Conrad and Alden as they make their way to a fan convention for a card game at which they both excel. Conrad's life is falling apart in every realm except the game, Odyssey. He is on the brink of homelessness and is unable to continue his education and is relying on prize money from the competition at the convention to turn his life around. Alden is counting on winning to give his life direction and get the scrutiny of his mom's off him as his life has not taken the path they all had planned for him.
I had so much fun reading this book. I was literally awake until 5 am reading it; clearly, I had a good time. The romance is cute, and the road trip moves the story along quite well, the tension between the characters is well done, both romantic and related to the competition they are about to play each other in.
I can't think of many non-fantasy road trip books I have enjoyed, but this one was great. I particularly think it was great to read during isolation as it takes you on a cross country road trip with tons of fun stops and a decent amount of being allowed to touch other humans.
I did bump against the speed at which the romance went from like to love, thought the rest of the pacing was well done, but that jump seemed jarring even though it was well telegraphed to the reader. It was just hard to believe that a character who keeps himself emotionally separate from other people as a defense would be this quick to say I love you. The other issue I had with the book was that the ultimate culmination of the plot seemed very very convenient. I love a happy ending, and I wanted a happy ending, but this would have been more believable if the book had had mentions of the ultimate outcome being an option earlier on in the book. My vagueness is in an attempt to not spoil beyond "this romance novel ends happily," which itsn't a massive spoiler because it is somewhat expected in the genre.
I liked the nerdy fun aspects of the book. I have never been this kind of nerd, I assume Odyssey is kind of like Magic the Gathering, but I don't know enough about it to be sure, but I loved reading about the excitement the characters had for the game.
The characters were an excellent group of mostly LGBTQ+ people. I liked the inclusion of a nonbinary person in the book and do kind of wish that they had more page time. Obviously, a two-person road-trip taking up most of the book doesn't leave tons of page time for the other characters. But this seems to be a series so maybe I will be seeing these people again! I also really appreciated Alden's character, I related to the social anxiety plus being embarrassingly literal at times, I loved reading about the way he interacted with the group and seeing them come to understand him better.
This was a fun enemies to lovers jaunt across the US full of nerdiness and the pressure of making life decisions (I am currently doing this bit so I related hard). I had a good time reading and will certainly rad more of the series.
I had so much fun reading this book. I was literally awake until 5 am reading it; clearly, I had a good time. The romance is cute, and the road trip moves the story along quite well, the tension between the characters is well done, both romantic and related to the competition they are about to play each other in.
I can't think of many non-fantasy road trip books I have enjoyed, but this one was great. I particularly think it was great to read during isolation as it takes you on a cross country road trip with tons of fun stops and a decent amount of being allowed to touch other humans.
I did bump against the speed at which the romance went from like to love, thought the rest of the pacing was well done, but that jump seemed jarring even though it was well telegraphed to the reader. It was just hard to believe that a character who keeps himself emotionally separate from other people as a defense would be this quick to say I love you. The other issue I had with the book was that the ultimate culmination of the plot seemed very very convenient. I love a happy ending, and I wanted a happy ending, but this would have been more believable if the book had had mentions of the ultimate outcome being an option earlier on in the book. My vagueness is in an attempt to not spoil beyond "this romance novel ends happily," which itsn't a massive spoiler because it is somewhat expected in the genre.
I liked the nerdy fun aspects of the book. I have never been this kind of nerd, I assume Odyssey is kind of like Magic the Gathering, but I don't know enough about it to be sure, but I loved reading about the excitement the characters had for the game.
The characters were an excellent group of mostly LGBTQ+ people. I liked the inclusion of a nonbinary person in the book and do kind of wish that they had more page time. Obviously, a two-person road-trip taking up most of the book doesn't leave tons of page time for the other characters. But this seems to be a series so maybe I will be seeing these people again! I also really appreciated Alden's character, I related to the social anxiety plus being embarrassingly literal at times, I loved reading about the way he interacted with the group and seeing them come to understand him better.
This was a fun enemies to lovers jaunt across the US full of nerdiness and the pressure of making life decisions (I am currently doing this bit so I related hard). I had a good time reading and will certainly rad more of the series.
lighthearted
slow-paced
ARC provided through NetGalley by the publisher.
This book was not really my thing. This does not mean it will not be yours, but I am certainly not into the book overall. It isn't bad, but I also cannot say that I enjoyed it. Throughout most of the beginning of the book, I thought it was fine, not good or bad, just fine. But as the novel progressed, I became less interested in the story and that characters and less satisfied with the resolution to plot conflict, hence the 2-star rating as opposed to three.
I will start with what I did like about the book! I do think the premise is very cute. A woman, Everly, finds out her boyfriend is cheating on her 30th birthday. When she goes into her radio producing job, her best friend accidentally broadcasts her relationship drama to the listeners, a series of events happens, and the radio station ends us doing a contest sort of like the Bachelorette with Everly at the center. I thought that seemed cute. Also, I liked the portrayal of Everly's anxiety, I really related to a bit where Everly is ranting about people to tell her to relax where she says "When someone tells me to do that, I just want to say, 'Oh, thanks, why didn't I think of that? All better now.'" I thought that bit was highly relatable, being told to relax is the worst. Aside from this, I was pretty meh about a lot of the book.
I found a lot of the plot resolutions unsatisfying. The ex who was hearing on Everly does not have much page-time either as a character on the page or in the thoughts of the main character, all I knew about him was that he banged his assistant. That is shitty, but it also didn't feel like he was actually a character and more that he was just the device to start the plot. Which he was, but I would have cared more if he had maybe had like two personality traits. Or if he and Everly had some sort of conversation about the incident, I found his character arc supremely uninteresting.
The love interest is Chris, Everly's boss, and the dude who pitches the contest, and I just kind of didn't care about his problems either. He has major Daddy issues, he and his brothers are star children who do everything right, and his sister is an idiot. I was particularly annoyed by the sister stuff. But that Dad issues drive most of his plot and I just kind of couldn't be worried about it much.
I won't keep going through the plot resolutions I was not interested in, because you can just kind of assume I found them all uninteresting. In fairness, I did skim some bits of the novel, but I already firmly did not care by the time I began to skim. I don't know where I started skimming because it just naturally happen as I became less interested.
Maybe this book will be your thing; it was clearly not mine.
Link to the review on my blog.
This book comes out on January 5th, 2021.
This book was not really my thing. This does not mean it will not be yours, but I am certainly not into the book overall. It isn't bad, but I also cannot say that I enjoyed it. Throughout most of the beginning of the book, I thought it was fine, not good or bad, just fine. But as the novel progressed, I became less interested in the story and that characters and less satisfied with the resolution to plot conflict, hence the 2-star rating as opposed to three.
I will start with what I did like about the book! I do think the premise is very cute. A woman, Everly, finds out her boyfriend is cheating on her 30th birthday. When she goes into her radio producing job, her best friend accidentally broadcasts her relationship drama to the listeners, a series of events happens, and the radio station ends us doing a contest sort of like the Bachelorette with Everly at the center. I thought that seemed cute. Also, I liked the portrayal of Everly's anxiety, I really related to a bit where Everly is ranting about people to tell her to relax where she says "When someone tells me to do that, I just want to say, 'Oh, thanks, why didn't I think of that? All better now.'" I thought that bit was highly relatable, being told to relax is the worst. Aside from this, I was pretty meh about a lot of the book.
I found a lot of the plot resolutions unsatisfying. The ex who was hearing on Everly does not have much page-time either as a character on the page or in the thoughts of the main character, all I knew about him was that he banged his assistant. That is shitty, but it also didn't feel like he was actually a character and more that he was just the device to start the plot. Which he was, but I would have cared more if he had maybe had like two personality traits. Or if he and Everly had some sort of conversation about the incident, I found his character arc supremely uninteresting.
The love interest is Chris, Everly's boss, and the dude who pitches the contest, and I just kind of didn't care about his problems either. He has major Daddy issues, he and his brothers are star children who do everything right, and his sister is an idiot. I was particularly annoyed by the sister stuff. But that Dad issues drive most of his plot and I just kind of couldn't be worried about it much.
I won't keep going through the plot resolutions I was not interested in, because you can just kind of assume I found them all uninteresting. In fairness, I did skim some bits of the novel, but I already firmly did not care by the time I began to skim. I don't know where I started skimming because it just naturally happen as I became less interested.
Maybe this book will be your thing; it was clearly not mine.
Link to the review on my blog.
This book comes out on January 5th, 2021.
I think I might be the only internet user who didn't know R. Eric Thomas. But I certainly know him now. And I really really like him. I found this book through Victoria Schwab’s IGTV video called “TBR Boost — 20 Books by Black Authors You Should Read”, she, as always, gives great recommendations!
Here For It is a collection of essays ruminating on who Thomas is and how he engages with the world, and how the world engages back. They are largely hilarious; I laughed out loud many times (I really should have kept count), which was quite the feat because I was listening to the audiobook while I was packing and running errands in my preparation to move out of London and go back home to Florida. In addition to hilarious, this book is also very thoughtful and has a lovely, hopeful message. It was truly a delight to read.
I am always deeply impressed by people who write about themselves. When it is done well, it feels honest and like you are slipping into the memories of the person writing. This one was done well. I really felt like I knew who R. Eric Thomas was like he was letting me into his head (his very, very funny head) for a short time.
This was an especially poignant time to read this book personally because I was in the process of moving away from London, he has a whole section about people who write about leaving NYC and writes about the unfulfilled feelings that come with moving on from a place before you thought you would, and am currently unsure what is after grad school, Thomas ruminates about the feelings of being lost or directionless a few times throughout the book. I especially love the way he lays out how he seemingly lucked into his success, though he illustrates the many many ways he worked for what he ended up achieving. The way opportunities sometimes present themselves, and you flourish in them if you have put in the work. Thomas illustrated how he was building his writing skills and his online community before he began to make a living off being an internet user.
I am very excited to be able to read his next book, which he coauthors with Helena Andrews-Dyer about Maxine Waters.
I would recommend Here for It to anyone who is an active internet user, or maybe just anyone who has ever used a social media platform of any kind! I also think this book would be an interesting read for anyone wanting to read about adult members of the LGBTQ+ community involved in a church community as well. I am not particularly church-y, but I found Thomas's experiences very interesting. It isn't a huge part of the book, but it is, in part, the focus of one of the essays and comes up in passing a few times.
Link to Review on my blog!
Here For It is a collection of essays ruminating on who Thomas is and how he engages with the world, and how the world engages back. They are largely hilarious; I laughed out loud many times (I really should have kept count), which was quite the feat because I was listening to the audiobook while I was packing and running errands in my preparation to move out of London and go back home to Florida. In addition to hilarious, this book is also very thoughtful and has a lovely, hopeful message. It was truly a delight to read.
I am always deeply impressed by people who write about themselves. When it is done well, it feels honest and like you are slipping into the memories of the person writing. This one was done well. I really felt like I knew who R. Eric Thomas was like he was letting me into his head (his very, very funny head) for a short time.
This was an especially poignant time to read this book personally because I was in the process of moving away from London, he has a whole section about people who write about leaving NYC and writes about the unfulfilled feelings that come with moving on from a place before you thought you would, and am currently unsure what is after grad school, Thomas ruminates about the feelings of being lost or directionless a few times throughout the book. I especially love the way he lays out how he seemingly lucked into his success, though he illustrates the many many ways he worked for what he ended up achieving. The way opportunities sometimes present themselves, and you flourish in them if you have put in the work. Thomas illustrated how he was building his writing skills and his online community before he began to make a living off being an internet user.
I am very excited to be able to read his next book, which he coauthors with Helena Andrews-Dyer about Maxine Waters.
I would recommend Here for It to anyone who is an active internet user, or maybe just anyone who has ever used a social media platform of any kind! I also think this book would be an interesting read for anyone wanting to read about adult members of the LGBTQ+ community involved in a church community as well. I am not particularly church-y, but I found Thomas's experiences very interesting. It isn't a huge part of the book, but it is, in part, the focus of one of the essays and comes up in passing a few times.
Link to Review on my blog!