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aislinghamill's reviews
251 reviews
Of Blood And Light by C. Monk
I gave Of Blood and Light five stars. I sincerely hope there is a sequel, if only because world-building this strong and this detailed deserves to be explored further.
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
5.0
Of Blood and Light is a New Adult high fantasy novel which leans heavily into its world-building. Monk misses no detail, from the language and its script, to the number of hours in a Thulish day, to the foods that appear on our main character’s table at breakfast.
While the complexity of the world-building is engaging and immersive, the aesthetics of the world are enchanting, hypnotic and magical. The settings are awe-inspiring, the style is distinctive, and the capybaras are charming.
This book also very charmingly blends fantasy and reality. The Thulish are at times just as fascinated by our world as we are by theirs. Thulish children sell Pokémon ‘amulets’ in the street. A Thulish entrepeneur is inspired by IKEA. Mordred has a Gameboy. But the references are sparse and well-integrated enough that they don’t pull you from the reality of the novel, or evoke any sense of cringe; rather, as River reflects, they act as reminders that, to an outsider, our world might also appear to hold magic.
River was a great protagonist. On reflection, I feel the novel was more plot than character-driven. It didn’t seem that River had any major flaw to overcome or lesson to learn. She was just a girl looking to protect her family, and she remained committed to that goal throughout. Her reactions, behaviour and language felt authentic and served to keep the novel grounded.
The one notably unusual thing about this novel is its end. In short, it’s quite long. Far past what seemed the natural conclusion, the novel extends into descriptions of the characters’ ongoing lives. While this surprised me at first, I came to appreciate it. The novel doesn’t rush its endings. River isn’t forced to make quick decisions about how (or where) she wants to live her life after her great adventure.
I gave Of Blood and Light five stars. I sincerely hope there is a sequel, if only because world-building this strong and this detailed deserves to be explored further.
The Wolf and the Watchman by Niklas Natt och Dag
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Dreamtime by Venetia Welby
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
4.0
This book really isn't like anything else I've read. I went into it with few expectations, having found it in a charity shop. I thought it would be something of a cli-fi adventure quest novel. The world it's set in is actually far closer to our own. At times it was hard to place – events like the Second World War are discussed as being still in living memory, and yet clearly there have been some significant changes in technology, politics etc., though nothing so dramatic it feels far off or impossible. Some political elements, such as the American presence in Okinawa, dependence on handheld devices etc. are clearly very current, though though they are presented in alternate ways, presumably to keep the novel from feeling too immediate.
I think the most interesting thing about the book is the way it blends the science fiction aspects with a sort of folklorish magical realism. It mixes the old with the new. Somehow both sit comfortably together, without creating any kind of tonal clash. Robots sit alongside kitsunes. It's beautifully done and refreshing in its uniqueness.
The characters are good too. Their flaws make them feel real, but still loveable. The romance is understated but gives an emotional heart to an otherwise somewhat disorienting (positive) and hard-to-pin down plot. the write is beautiful, hypnotic at times, but never over-indulgent or dramatic. The tragedies of climate disaster are mundane in this world, and they are described casually in the narrative – never with melodrama.
Yeah, nice.
I think the most interesting thing about the book is the way it blends the science fiction aspects with a sort of folklorish magical realism. It mixes the old with the new. Somehow both sit comfortably together, without creating any kind of tonal clash. Robots sit alongside kitsunes. It's beautifully done and refreshing in its uniqueness.
The characters are good too. Their flaws make them feel real, but still loveable. The romance is understated but gives an emotional heart to an otherwise somewhat disorienting (positive) and hard-to-pin down plot. the write is beautiful, hypnotic at times, but never over-indulgent or dramatic. The tragedies of climate disaster are mundane in this world, and they are described casually in the narrative – never with melodrama.
Yeah, nice.